Unai Emery has expressed confidence Aston Villa can still overcome Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and reach the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, despite a 3-1 defeat in the first leg of their quarter-final clash in Paris on Wednesday night.
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Villa show fight in Paris
Villa took a deserved lead at the Parc des Princes through Morgan Rogers in the first half, but the hosts hit back in style.
Spectacular goals from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on either side of the interval turned the match on its head before a late strike from Nuno Mendes gave PSG a commanding two-goal cushion ahead of the return leg at Villa Park.
“At 2-1 we were thinking about playing to win in the next match, and at 3-1 it is still the same,” Emery told reporters post-match. “We are here and enjoying it, and I am very proud of the players. We competed fantastically and were close to getting a good result.”
Villa Park the key to revival
Despite the scoreline, Emery remains hopeful that the second leg at home will offer a different story.
“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,” he said.
The Midlands club arrived in Paris in red-hot form, having won seven straight games across all competitions. That run has boosted their domestic Champions League qualification hopes and secured a place in the FA Cup semi-finals.
A tough challenge
Although disappointed by the result, Emery remained upbeat about the experience and what it means for the club.
“I am not happy, but I am satisfied with the performance of the team,” he said. “It is special for us to be in Paris and playing a Champions League quarter-final.
“The second leg will be just as difficult at 3-1 as it was at 2-1. We have to win.”
Aston Villa now face a major task when they welcome PSG to Birmingham next Tuesday, but under Emery, a serial winner in Europe, belief still burns.
