Douglas Luiz has explained his goal celebration against Manchester United after being mocked by Rio Ferdinand following Scott McTominay’s late winner.
Luiz scored Villa’s equaliser against United and celebrated with a shimmy, which many assumed was aimed in the direction of United goalkeeper Andre Onana.
Sky Sports presenter Kelly Cates added fuel to the fire by baselessly theorising that there might be some bad blood between Luiz and Onana, but Luiz said on Monday morning that it was simply a reference to carnival season in his home country of Brazil, which started on Saturday.
Ferdinand asked if Luiz was ok, with several crying-laughing emojis, and Luiz simply responded: “I’m good, thanks. It’s just carnival time in Brazil.”
I’m good, thanks it’s just carnaval time in Brazil 🇧🇷 https://t.co/ncErg0oMV2
— Douglas Luiz (@dgoficial) February 12, 2024
Erik ten Hag was asked after the match if Luiz’s celebration had given United extra motivation to win but played down the significance of the incident.
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“I don’t have an opinion about that,” Ten Hag said. “I haven’t spoken to the players. Maybe it’s fuelling, I don’t know. I don’t think it is important. It is about us, we have to think about our game and not the opposition.”
United’s win was one of their most important of the season as it keeps them within touching distance of Aston Villa and Tottenham who are currently fifth and fourth in the Premier League respectively.
Next up for Ten Hag’s side are games against Luton and Fulham, before a trip to Nottingham Forest in the fifth round of the FA Cup.