Unai Emery Insists Villa Can Still Stun PSG After 3-1 First-Leg Loss in Champions League Quarter-Final
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is refusing to give up hope of reaching the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, despite a 3-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-final first leg on Wednesday night.
Villa had taken the lead through Morgan Rogers, but PSG responded with three spectacular goals, including stunners from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, before Nuno Mendes sealed the victory in stoppage time.
“We Must Win” – Emery Remains Defiant
Despite the loss, Emery remains upbeat.
“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 after the match. “We competed fantastically and were close to getting a good result.”
Emery pointed to the return leg at Villa Park as an opportunity to bounce back:
“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.”
Luis Enrique Warns PSG Will Keep Attacking
PSG coach Luis Enrique praised his team’s performance and vowed they won’t adopt a conservative approach in 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,” Enrique said.
He credited his players’ technical brilliance, singling out the goals from Doue and Kvaratskhelia, and praised Ousmane Dembele’s assist for the third goal.
“The last-minute goal rewards what we did over the 90 minutes,” Enrique added.
Stat Showdown and What’s Next
PSG dominated possession with 68% of the ball and unleashed 30 shots, compared to Villa’s 8. They now carry a strong advantage into the second leg, but with Villa’s strong home form and fighting spirit, Emery still believes the tie is alive.
“I am not happy, but I am satisfied with the performance,” Emery concluded. “The second leg will be just as difficult at 3-1 as it was at 2-1. We have to win.”
Second Leg Schedule & Team News
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Return Leg: Tuesday at Villa Park
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PSG Boost: Captain Marquinhos returns from suspension
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Villa Challenge: Must travel to face Southampton in the Premier League this weekend
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PSG Advantage: Free weekend after Ligue 1 match vs Nantes postponed
