Aston Villa suffered a 3-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final first leg, leaving them with a tough task to overcome in the second leg.
The defeat comes a fortnight after the French club dumped premier league leaders, Liverpool, from the elite continental tournament.
In a pulsating match at the Parc des Princes, Villa took the lead through Morgan Rogers’ clever finish, but PSG responded strongly with two goals from Desire Doue and Nuno Mendes.
The defeat leaves Villa with a significant challenge to overcome in the second leg, but manager Unai Emery remains optimistic about their chances.
“We can feel strong at home with our supporters at Villa Park,” Emery said. “Of course, the result is not good for us, but at home, it’s a chance for us to show our power.”
Rogers, who scored Villa’s goal, echoed Emery’s sentiments, saying, “It’s not done yet. We’re here for a reason, not just to compete. We knew we were in a fight, and we knew we had to defend well and battle. We’re going to go for everything and try and win the tie.”
The second leg is scheduled to take place at Villa Park on April 15, with Villa needing a win or a significant improvement in their performance to progress to the semi-finals.
In related news, the Premier League has secured a fifth Champions League spot for next season, following Arsenal’s historic win over Real Madrid.
The development has significant implications for Villa, who are currently seventh in the Premier League and will need to maintain their form to secure a Champions League spot.
“We’re going to go for everything and try and win the tie,” Rogers added, highlighting the team’s determination to progress in the competition.
Emery’s team will face a tough challenge in the second leg, but with their home support, they remain confident about their chances.
“We’re going to give it everything, and we’re going to try and win the tie,” Rogers concluded.
The match is set to be a thrilling encounter, with Villa looking to pull off a remarkable comeback against the strong PSG side.