Aston Villa's Unai Emery Proud Ahead Of Champions League Clash With PSG

Add as a preferred source on Google

Aston Villa's manager, Unai Emery, expressed his delight as his team advanced to the Champions League quarter-finals. They secured a 3-0 victory over Club Brugge at Villa Park, winning 6-1 on aggregate. This achievement marks Aston Villa as the ninth English club to reach this stage, the highest number from any single nation. Emery emphasised the significance of this accomplishment for the club.

Emery acknowledged the challenge ahead as they prepare to face Paris Saint-Germain in the next round. He stated, "For our club, it is very important to be in the Champions League quarter-finals. To play against Paris Saint-Germain is something we have to be proud of." Despite their success, Emery remains focused on competing with top teams globally.

Having previously coached PSG from 2016 to 2018, Emery understands the strength of their upcoming opponents. PSG reached this stage by defeating Liverpool, a team he described as "the best in Europe until yesterday." Emery noted that playing against PSG would be a difficult task due to their demonstrated capabilities.

Reflecting on their recent performance against Brugge, Emery was initially disappointed with Villa's first-half display. Despite having an advantage after Brugge had a player sent off, Villa failed to score before halftime. However, they turned things around with three goals in the second half, securing a comprehensive victory.

This season has been remarkable for Aston Villa in the Champions League. They have won seven out of ten matches (D1 L2), a record only surpassed by Lazio and Valencia during their debut campaigns in 1999-00. Emery expressed satisfaction with how his team competed across both legs against Brugge.

Marco Asensio received special praise from Emery for his impactful performance as a substitute against Brugge. Asensio scored twice in the second half, contributing significantly to Villa's win. "We are happy with him," said Emery. He explained that Asensio wasn't fully fit but played when needed and fulfilled his role effectively.

The upcoming clash with PSG presents a significant test for Aston Villa as they aim to continue their impressive run in Europe. With Emery's experience and strategic approach, Villa hopes to compete at the highest level and achieve further success in this prestigious tournament.