12 February 2024 , 11:03
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Aston Villa ace Douglas Luiz has responded to Rio Ferdinand after the Manchester United legend poked fun at the Brazilian's goal celebration over the weekend.
Villa took on the Red Devils on Sunday afternoon, with plenty on the line given both sides are vying for Champions League qualification. Scott McTominay eventually won the game for United with an 86th minute header, but it looked set to be a frustrating evening for Erik ten Hag's men when Rasmus Hojlund's opener was cancelled out by Luiz's second-half strike.
The Brazilian fired Unai Emery's side level with a neat finish, before provocatively celebrating in the face of United defender Casemiro with a shimmy of the shoulders. Of course, Luiz was left with egg on his face when McTominay headed home United's winner.
Ferdinand did not forget Luiz's celebration and after the full-time whistle was blown, took to social media to remind the Villa star. The ex-United centre-back uploaded an image of Luiz performing the celebration after scoring and tagged the midfielder. He wrote: "You ok @dgoficial?" alongside four laughing emojis.
Luiz has since replied, with an explanation behind his post-goal antics. "I’m good, thanks it’s just carnival time in Brazil," he wrote. In the immediate aftermath of the celebration, Raphael Varane had to be stopped by referee Rob Jones from clashing with the Villa midfielder.
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Ten Hag addressed the clash after the game and discussed whether the celebration served as motivation for his United players. He told reporters: “I don’t have an opinion on it. I haven’t spoken to the players. It may have fuelised (fuelled) the players. I don’t know.
"We have to think about our game. Not about the opposition. We always want to control the game and dictate it. That should be our approach."
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Thanks to McTominay's late winner, United are now just five points behind Unai Emery's Villa side. Hopes are clearly high within the Red Devils camp that they can make a late charge for the top four, with Ten Hag issuing a confident rally cry.
"I think we can beat any opponent - away or at home," the Dutchman explained. "We have to believe it more away from home. We could have won at Arsenal, at Liverpool - it’s about belief. This team believed it could win this game."
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