Unai Emery believes Aston Villa can pull off a stunning comeback against Paris Saint-Germain with the help of their passionate home crowd. Villa face a 3-1 deficit in the Champions League quarterfinal second leg, but Emery remains confident ahead of Tuesday night’s clash at Villa Park.
The first leg saw Villa take an early lead at the Parc des Princes. However, a stoppage-time goal from Nuno Mendes changed the momentum in PSG’s favor. Despite the setback, Emery insists that the objective hasn’t changed. The team still needs to win—only now, they must do it by a greater margin.
“We had to win with 2-1. Now, we need one more goal,” Emery said during a press conference on Monday. He emphasized that the challenge remains within reach and that the team is focused on delivering a strong performance at home.
Paris Saint-Germain arrive in dominant form. They have won 17 of their last 18 matches across all competitions. Their only recent loss came in the Champions League round of 16, when Liverpool beat them 1-0 in Paris. However, PSG reversed that result with a confident display at Anfield.
The French champions have not lost by more than one goal since October. They have suffered just one defeat in their last 47 games. Even so, Aston Villa also enter the second leg in excellent form. The Premier League side has won eight of their last nine matches in all competitions. Their only loss in that run came against PSG.
Villa are also unbeaten at home since August. That last home defeat, a 2-0 loss to Arsenal, feels distant now. Interestingly, Arsenal could face the winner of this tie in the semifinals, adding more significance to Tuesday’s encounter.
Emery, who previously managed PSG, believes Villa’s fans can play a decisive role. “Our fans can be the difference,” he said. “If we connect with them, we gain extra strength on the pitch.” He added that positive energy from the crowd boosts player performance both tactically and emotionally.
“If we create that energy, they’ll add more. That support helps us in tough moments,” Emery explained. He praised his side’s effort in the first leg and shared that he is refining a tactical plan for the return match. “If we’re winning, we’re close,” he said. “We must follow a strong tactical plan and stay consistent.”
The Spanish coach also said he is ready for any scenario. “If we reach extra time, fantastic. Penalties? That could be fantastic too.” For Villa, this is their biggest European night in decades. They last featured in the Champions League during the 1982/83 season. Now, with the crowd behind them, they aim to create another unforgettable chapter.
