Aston Villa defender Lucas Digne showed the true meaning of 'no pain, no gain' after Sunday’s clash against Tottenham. The Frenchman suffered a gruesome ankle gash following a crunching tackle from Kevin Danso, later unleashing an X-rated tirade at the fourth official. The 32-year-old later shared a graphic image of his injury on Instagram.
Digne furious with officials after painful blow
The heated incident unfolded during the second half of Aston Villa’s 2-1 comeback victory over Tottenham. Digne was left writhing in pain after Danso’s follow-through caught his ankle hard inside the box, but referee Simon Hooper waved play on despite Villa’s protests. Furious at the lack of punishment, Digne later erupted after being substituted, kicking a chair before directing an X-rated rant at fourth official Anthony Taylor.
The Frenchman beckoned Taylor to inspect his ankle, visibly furious that Danso had escaped a booking. While Spurs fans jeered his outburst, Digne’s passion reflected his frustration at what he believed was dangerous play ignored by the officials. His fiery reaction briefly overshadowed Villa’s crucial win, though few could question his commitment after the match.
AdvertisementDigne's 'No pain, no gain' mantra
After the full-time whistle, Digne took to Instagram to show fans exactly why he had been so enraged on the touchline. The Aston Villa star posted a photo of his ankle being treated by the medical team, revealing a deep, open gash that stretched across the top of his ankle. Captioning the image with the defiant line “No pain, no gain” and a crying-laughing emoji, Digne gave followers a glimpse of the grim aftermath of Danso’s challenge.
The post quickly went viral among Villa fans, who praised the defender’s toughness and willingness to play through the pain barrier. It wasn’t the first time Digne had done so this season, having previously continued after sustaining a head injury during Villa’s draw with Everton in September.
WARNING: Graphic image
Look away now if you don't want to see Digne's injury…
Lucas Digne Instagram
Assist sets up vital win for Villa at Spurs
Digne had already been crucial before the ugly challenge. The 32-year-old had set up Villa’s match-winning goal, showing remarkable composure to control a high pass from Matty Cash before feeding Emi Buendía, who fired home a superb strike to make it 2-1. That assist marked another strong outing in a season where Digne has been among Unai Emery’s most reliable performers.
The full-back won seven duels and all three of his aerial battles against Tottenham, underlining both his defensive and attacking value for Emery’s side. Villa had failed to overturn a deficit in 10 of their last 11 away defeats before this result, making the comeback even more significant.