Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is urging belief and energy from his squad and supporters as they prepare for a daunting but not impossible Champions League comeback against Paris Saint-Germain.
Villa trail 3-1 after the first leg in Paris, where Luis Enrique’s formidable PSG side showcased their quality with a dominant performance. Goals from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia set the tone before Nuno Mendes added a potentially decisive third in stoppage time.
The challenge is steep: PSG have won 17 of their last 18 matches across all competitions, with their only loss in that run coming against Liverpool—a defeat they quickly avenged at Anfield. The French champions haven't lost by more than a single goal since October and have suffered just one defeat in 47 games this season.
Still, Emery knows firsthand that the Champions League has a flair for the dramatic. In 2017, he was on the wrong end of history when Luis Enrique’s Barcelona overturned a 4-0 deficit to beat his PSG side 6-1 in one of the most iconic comebacks ever. This time, Emery is on the other side of the narrative—and he’s determined to write a different ending.
“We’re going to experience something very, very special at Villa Park on Tuesday,” said Emery. “It’s an opportunity for us, for our fans, and for the club. Of course it will be difficult, but we have to believe in our strength at home, prepare well, and feed off the energy of the crowd. When we play our best football, we can achieve great things.”
Villa Gaining Momentum
Villa enter the clash in strong form, fighting on three fronts as the season enters its final stretch. A 3-0 weekend win over Southampton brought them within touching distance of the Premier League’s top four, and they also have an FA Cup semifinal against Crystal Palace later this month.
The team’s January reinforcements—Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio, Donyell Malen, and Axel Disasi—have added significant depth and quality, which showed in Saturday’s victory where all three scorers—Ollie Watkins, Malen, and John McGinn—came off the bench.
“We struggled earlier in the season because we didn’t have enough options,” Emery explained. “But the players we brought in during the transfer window have made a huge difference, adding competition and helping us pick up the points we need.”
Fortress Villa Park
Emery is also counting on Villa Park to play its part. The team is unbeaten at home in both the Premier League and Champions League since a 2-0 loss to Arsenal in August. Ironically, the Gunners could await in the semifinals if Villa can turn things around.
“We need to share our momentum with the fans,” Emery said. “Villa Park is always special, and on Tuesday it needs to be electric. With the right energy on the field and in the stands, we’ll give ourselves the best chance of making history.”