“It might be innocent, but I don’t like that,” former Villa defender Joleon Lescott said on TNT Sports.

“Regardless of what it was for, if it was the other way around and the player refused to shake his manager’s hand, there would be uproar, and his mentality and professionalism would be questioned.

“I’m sure it’s more innocent than it looks, but I don’t like the look of it.”

Emery, who has won the Europa League a record four times as a manager, was managing his 100th game in the competition and said he is “dreaming” of a fifth title.