Unai Emery gave a difficult post-match interview after Aston Villa suffered a 3-2 defeat to Manchester United after a second-half capitulation.
The Aston Villa manager started his interview in a blunt and cautious manner, punctuating his words with thoughtful chin movements and an awkward laugh.
He had just seen his side's 2-0 lead destroyed by a burst of second-half brilliance from Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund as Man United fought back to claim a thrilling victory.
Goals from John McGinn and Leander Dendoncker had Villa on course for a victory that would have put Aston Villa joint top of the Premier League.
Despite the second-half collapse, Emery was in no mood to talk negatively.
Unai Emery initially ignored a question about what went wrong against Manchester United and replied: 'Thirty-nine points. It is awesome!'
Aston Villa capitulated in the second half as United came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at home
Asked what went wrong, he told Amazon Prime Sports: “Thirty-nine points. It is awesome.
Laughing, he said, 'Now you're asking me the other way! Fine, fine, just analyze tonight. Sixty minutes, fantastic. Fantastic.'
After wins over Manchester City and Arsenal, Villa had emerged as surprise title challengers in the Premier League, but followed up a draw against struggling Sheffield United by surrendering a 2–0 lead to Man United.
The defeat was their first since November 5 and keeps Aston Villa in third place, but after the brief start to the interview Emery opened up about the match.
The Spaniard was keen to focus on the lessons his team could learn from the match.
He said: 'Manchester United, when they scored the first goal, the supporters came back here, the atmosphere pushed them. And they have very good players.
'Of course we had to be demanding, but also accepting. One team like Manchester United here can come back like they did.
Rasmus Hojlund struck late to complete Man United's 3-2 comeback against Aston Villa – scoring his first Premier League goal
Alejandro Garnacho scored a goal in the second half to bring United back on level terms
Emery chuckled to himself during his post-match interview and was initially reluctant to talk about the loss
'I want to analyze this match with the first sixty minutes we played, very well. Then of course we have to gain experiences and we have to improve at the level we want to reach, the level we want to reach.
'Our players are now gaining experience. Manchester United have more experience than us, more time at the highest level, the players, the club and the team. We go on. Ultimately very disappointed, but accepting and trying to understand our whole first part of the season.”
Villa sit comfortably in the top four and have recorded 15 straight wins at Villa Park until Sheffied United snapped the streak with a 1-1 draw last week.
Their stunning performances have inevitably sparked talk of a title challenge, but Emery tempered expectations and insisted other teams are still more favorites than them.
He said: 'Now you can ask me if we have a chance of winning a trophy or a title. [Are you?] No, but not now, two weeks ago I thought the same thing. Why? Because we are playing against seven top teams, they are more contenders than us.
'Of course we are consistent and better than many teams in the top position, but we have played nineteen games today and today we missed a great opportunity to be consistent on our way against the ten best teams that were there.
John McGinn (R) had given Aston Villa the lead after his free kick ended up in the net
Leander Dendoncker (R) then doubled the visitors' lead with a clever strike, but Villa were undone after the break
'But that happens like tonight, the reaction after the first goal against, we responded with two good chances.
“Today we could win and lose, and we lost.
'Go further, be demanding. I told the players it's been fantastic for the first part of the season, but I want more. And if they want more, we have to work hard for it.'
Villa's next assignment is against Burnley on Saturday.