Aston Villa produced a spirited comeback against Paris Saint-German at Villa Park but are out of the Champions League following an incredible 5-4 aggregate defeat.
Facing a 3-1 deficit from the first leg, they slipped two behind on the night following goals from Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes to seemingly end any hopes of a comeback but stunned PSG by pulling three of the four goals back, roared on by the Villa crowd.
Efforts by Youri Tielemans, John McGinn and Ezri Konsa had the French champions and competition favourites rocking but the final goal would not come. Marco Asensio had the clearest opportunity against his parent club but was denied one-against-one.
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Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison believes Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez has to do better as PSG take an early lead in the Champions League
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Clinton Morrison cannot believe what he is watching as Aston Villa score two goals in three minutes to make it 5-4 on aggregate against PSG
“We will be connecting with our supporters and transmitting the energy,” Emery had warned beforehand and he was not wrong. PSG were taken to places they could not have expected but it is they who progress to a semi-final against Arsenal or Real Madrid.
For Villa, thoughts now turn to domestic matters and a hectic schedule that sees them face Newcastle and Manchester City in the Premier League before an FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace. Plenty to be excited about, but this European adventure is over.
How the night unfolded for Villa
Villa did all they could to create a hostile atmosphere, pressing from the outset and roared on by the home support, but the assumption was that this second leg was likely to hinge on the first goal and it was PSG who claimed it on the break after 11 minutes.
Mendes sent Bradley Barcola away and Emiliano Martinez could only palm the cross into the path of the onrushing Hakimi. Before the half-hour mark, Villa were undone again on the break, Hakimi’s fellow full-back Mendes finishing off that slick move.
Villa’s night was threatening to unravel at that point, in danger of losing face as well as the tie, but they kept pushing and were rewarded when Tielemans’ shot deflected into the net off Willian Pacho. That got them in at the break still four down on aggregate.
It was two goals in quick succession that changed the complexion of the night, a deflected strike by McGinn followed by some magic from Marcus Rashford to set up Konsa. At that point, the previously assured PSG appeared to be feeling the pressure.
Villa created big chances in the game but Asensio’s was the one, at a time when the momentum was really with Emery’s side. Gianluigi Donnarumma saved with his feet and the substitutions by the home side seemed to disrupt the rhythm for a while.
Ian Maatsen did have a shot blocked in stoppage-time but PSG stumbled over the line. Villa supporters applauded their team off. Their dreams dashed but feeling nothing but pride. The comeback did not win the tie but it did win the leg and the love of this crowd.
Emery: PSG were suffering
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery speaking in the press conference:
“At 2-0, it was big gap, but today we competed fantastic and it was good because the players followed the game plan, being consistent.
“They were suffering as well with our press against them. This is the moment where we were missing that last minute [goal] in Paris. Today, after 3-2, the last 20 minutes were missing that bit, pushing them and trying to get them even more tired to get the result.
“Of course, we can feel happy, proud and comfortable with the work that we did. But if we want to achieve the next level, they showed the next level here and there.
“But the supporters were enjoying it, transmitting the energy and we were feeling so confident here and my thanks to the supporters.”
Luis Enrique: We have not been dominated in this way
PSG head coach Luis Enrique speaking in the press conference:
“I was not happy at the end of the first half. We were playing at a level that was not befitting of the Champions League. Then in the second half, we were really suffering and Villa had chances to equalise.
“I do not think this team has been dominated by a team in this way but the opponent had to take risk because they were going out of the competition. They attacked with real intensity and in front of a great crowd as well. We will improve with this experience.
“At 2-0 we nearly had Villa on the canvas. We reached a point where perhaps it was too easy, a bit of overconfidence, and that gave Villa a chance. The goal gives them a route back into the game and they had nothing to lose.
“They are very strong in the air, every time they were sending balls into box and that is not our game. We are a small team. We prefer the ball on the floor. But we came through that and I see that as a positive.”
Konsa: We wanted to prove a point
Aston Villa scorer Ezri Konsa speaking to Amazon Prime:
“At half-time, we felt we had nothing to lose. We wanted to go out there and prove a point. We had chances – I think I scored the hardest one. I don’t think we could have done any more.
“We showed we can compete at the highest level and we want to do it again next season.”
McGinn: We just fell a little bit short
Aston Villa captain John McGinn speaking to Amazon Prime:
“Obvious disappointment but I am proud of my team-mates, proud of the club. We have come a long way. We were so, so close tonight. We just fell a little bit short.
“We had chances to take the game to extra-time but we’ve got to be proud about the way we came back against one of the best teams in the world, to fight to the end.
“We want more. We want to be back here next season and we will try our best to do that.”
Marquinhos: We can go all the way
PSG captain Marquinhos speaking to Amazon Prime:
“We knew it was going to be a difficult game. We had belief, we kept our intensity and we believed until the end we were going to go through.
“It is such a difficult competition but we are getting better and better and we are proving we are a good team. There is belief that we can go all the way and win it this year.”
Achraf Hakimi set PSG on their way but Villa made it difficult after that
Carra: Villa have to use PSG performance
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher on CBS:
“It’s one of those nights that as a fan, you’re disappointed, but you’ve loved it as well.
“You were going to Villa Park not expecting too much but that is a night they’ll remember for a long time.
“Hopefully, from Villa’s point of view, they’ll get in the Champions league again next season. I think they will through league position.
“But that is a night they couldn’t have dreamt of four or five years ago.
“Yes, they will be disappointed, but there will be a real buzz around Aston Villa now going forward because they can use that performance.
“If they’d have ended up losing 2-0 or 3-0, that affects your league form or the FA Cup semi-final they’ve got coming up.
“They can use the fact that, in the captain John McGinn’s eyes, they’ve beaten the best team in Europe, and beaten them well or even by more.
“They have got to take that going forward now.”
Analysis: Rashford delivers on big stage
Sky Sports’ Lewis Jones:
Unai Emery knows a player – it’s one of his many skillsets as a manager. He knows Marcus Rashford is a world-class operator on his day, hence why the on-loan Manchester United man is ousting Ollie Watkins from the Villa frontline. Emery has lit a fire under the much-talked-about centre-forward. This performance was the best we’ve seen from Rashford for two years.
What he produced on this stage against arguably the best team in European football was world-class in terms of output. Rashford created the most chances (4) and completed the most dribbles (4) by any player on the pitch, combining both of those aspects to perfection in setting up Ezri Konsa to send Villa Park into a frenzy of belief that the comeback of all comebacks was on. It wasn’t meant to be eventually as Villa’s fizzy play went flat when Rashford departed with 15 minutes to go.
“I have to congratulate Marcus Rashford – I thought he was fantastic,” said Wayne Rooney on Amazon Prime.
“His talent, his skill, his ability to provoke the opponent. I hope he goes back to Manchester United and plays like he did today. That’s what we all want to see as Manchester United fans. He wants to play for Manchester United, 100 per cent. He’s a Manchester boy, but he needed to play.
“Rashford, in an ideal world, would want to play and leave a legacy in Manchester. I don’t know if that’s possible, but that’s what I’d like to see.”
Aston Villa’s night in stats
PSG have progressed from each of their last four quarter-final ties in the Champions League, reaching the final four for a fifth time overall and a fourth time in the last six seasons.
In what was their first Champions League campaign, Aston Villa have been eliminated at the quarter-final stage, winning eight of their 12 games. No side has ever won more matches in their debut campaign in the competition.
PSG failed to win a Champions League game despite leading by two goals for the first time since March 2001, having won 56 successive such matches prior to tonight.
Aston Villa have extended their unbeaten run at Villa Park to 18 games across all competitions, their longest run without defeat on home soil since a run of 20 games between April 1990 and February 1991.
Since making his Aston Villa debut in February, no Premier League player has provided more assists across all competitions than Marcus Rashford (5).
Youri Tielemans has had a hand in 13 goals for Aston Villa in all competitions this season (4 goals, 9 assists), his best tally in a single campaign since 2020-21 for Leicester (15 – 9 goals, 6 assists).
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