Aston Villa coach Unai Emery remains confident that his side can still overturn a 3-1 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie, despite the challenging result. Villa had taken a surprising lead in the first half at the Parc des Princes through Morgan Rogers, but PSG responded after the break with goals from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Nuno Mendes added a third in stoppage time, giving PSG a two-goal advantage heading into next week’s return leg at Villa Park.
Despite the defeat, Emery expressed pride in his team’s performance, highlighting the quality of their play and their near-miss in securing a positive result. “At 2-1 we were thinking about playing to win in the next match, and at 3-1 it is still the same,” he said, maintaining his belief that Villa can still progress. He emphasized that Villa Park would be a crucial factor, adding, “Villa Park is our home, and hopefully there we will be stronger. But of course, they are still favourites. They showed their power and individual quality.”
Villa’s recent form has been strong, with seven consecutive wins in all competitions heading into the match, as well as a place in the FA Cup semi-finals. Emery acknowledged that while the task ahead is daunting, his players would give everything in the return leg. “I am not happy but I am satisfied with the performance of the team. It is special for us to be in Paris and playing a Champions League quarter-final,” he said, stressing that they would need a special performance in Birmingham to turn the tie around. “The second leg will be just as difficult at 3-1 as it was at 2-1. We have to win.”
On the other side, PSG’s coach Luis Enrique was delighted with his team’s performance, stressing that PSG would not be complacent in the second leg. “The game had a bit of everything but we controlled it,” he said. Enrique pointed out that while Villa had scored early in the match, PSG responded well with two stunning goals and felt they deserved the 3-1 victory. He particularly praised the quality of the goals, especially the magnificent equalizer by Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s brilliant solo effort. Mendes’ goal in stoppage time capped off an impressive performance from the Parisians, whose possession dominance and attacking play were evident throughout the match.
Enrique was clear about PSG’s intentions for the second leg. “Our objective in Birmingham is clear, to try to win the game. We don’t know how to speculate, or to sit back and defend deep. We will try to have the ball and attack more than the opposition,” he said. Despite acknowledging the difficulty of playing at Villa Park, Enrique was confident in his team’s ability to continue their attacking approach.
PSG will welcome back captain Marquinhos for the return leg after he missed the first match due to suspension, strengthening their defense. The Parisians have a break this weekend after their Ligue 1 match against Nantes was postponed, giving them extra time to prepare for next Tuesday’s second leg. Villa, meanwhile, will be focused on their Premier League match against Southampton on Saturday before returning to Champions League action.
With a challenging task ahead, Emery and his Villa squad will need a remarkable performance in Birmingham to pull off a comeback, while PSG will look to finish the job and secure their place in the semi-finals.
