Unai Emery’s return to Paris is more than just a managerial face-off—it’s a personal reckoning with the ghosts of “La Remontada” and a chance to lead Aston Villa into uncharted Champions League territory.
As Villa prepare for their quarterfinal clash against an in-form PSG side—who have already dispatched Manchester City and Liverpool—Emery finds himself not only plotting their downfall but also exorcising the demons of a painful chapter in his career.
The Spaniard enjoyed a trophy-laden two-year spell at PSG from 2016 to 2018, winning seven pieces of silverware including Ligue 1. Yet his legacy in Paris remains tainted by one night in March 2017, when his side squandered a 4-0 first-leg lead to lose 6-1 to Barcelona in the Champions League Round of 16.
That historic collapse, now infamously known as La Remontada, saw Emery become the first manager to lose a four-goal advantage in Champions League history. Adding to the irony, PSG’s current coach Luis Enrique was on the opposing bench that night, leading Barcelona in what he later described as “a horror movie, not a drama.”
But for Emery, this return is not about revenge—it’s a shot at redemption.
The European Expert
Aston Villa’s confidence heading into the tie is built largely around Emery’s unrivaled pedigree in European competitions. A source inside the club told BBC Sport:
“He’s a genius. No detail is too small. No team will be more prepared than Aston Villa.”
That belief is backed by results. Emery won three consecutive Europa League titles with Sevilla (2014–2016), took Arsenal to the 2019 final, and lifted the trophy again with Villarreal in 2021. He even led Villarreal to a Champions League semi-final in 2022, only to fall to Liverpool.
European football is where Emery thrives—and Villa know it.
Midfielder Youri Tielemans summed up the team’s mindset:
“We take confidence from him. He’s experienced at this level and always has a plan.”
Villa’s Momentum
Villa arrive in Paris on the back of strong domestic form, having reached the FA Cup semi-final and climbed into Premier League top-four contention with a win over Nottingham Forest. Under Emery, the team is riding a seven-game winning streak in all competitions—their best run in the top flight since their 1981 title-winning season.
Another subplot to watch is forward Marco Asensio. On loan from PSG, the Spaniard is eligible to face his parent club and offers both insider knowledge and proven pedigree. A three-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, Asensio has already scored three goals in the knockout stage for Villa and could play a key role in the tie.
Tactical Chess Match
The battle between Emery and Enrique promises to be a tactical spectacle. Emery, ever the strategist, respects the challenge ahead:
“Luis Enrique is one of the best in the world. He’s tactically sharp, intense, and his teams dominate possession. It’s hard to impose our game against him—but we must try.”
Emery added that returning to Paris with Villa in the Champions League is “a special moment” and praised PSG’s form:
“They’ve just won the league and beat Liverpool, who were favourites. They are an incredible team.”
Yet Emery isn’t fazed. He knows this stage, and it suits him.
A Chance to Rewrite the Narrative
For Villa, the hope is simple: that the man with a proven European blueprint can deliver another famous night. For Emery, it’s an opportunity to move beyond a painful legacy in Paris—and write a new chapter of glory, this time in claret and blue.