The UEFA Super Cup belongs to Paris Saint-Germain but Aston Villa left Salzburg with something far more precious than a piece of pre-season silverware.
Between them, teenagers Brian Madjo and George Hemmings have made just six competitive appearances for Villa. Yet both frightened the life out of the back-to-back Champions League winners and on this evidence, they will be given plenty more opportunities by Unai Emery.
They may have sold £150million worth of talent in Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne since winning the Europa League and have doubts over the future of other key players. There is nothing quite like teenagers stepping up to the mark, though, and their performances will give Villa plenty of encouragement ahead of their Premier League opener at Brighton on August 23.
Madjo, 17, became the youngest scorer in Super Cup history when he steered home John McGinn’s cross just before half-time. Before that, the 6ft 4ins centre-forward missed two other excellent chances and bullied Willian Pacho, one of the world’s best centre-backs.
Villa signed Madjo for £10m from Metz last January but a registration issue meant he was not cleared to play until this summer.
Either side of Madjo’s strike, goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue ensured PSG retained this trophy, and it is important to say PSG were some way from full fitness and Liverpool target Bradley Barcola did not leave the bench.
Achraf Hakimi lifts the UEFA Super Cup for PSG after their 2-1 win over Aston Villa
Desire Doue beat the offside trap to put PSG 2-1 up against Aston Villa in Salzburg
English 17-year-old Brian Madjo had a number of chances and converted the equaliser
Yet many of Villa’s players were not in peak condition, either. Luckily, Hemmings was one of those determined to make his mark.
The 19-year-old is a product of Villa’s youth system and given the club’s struggles with UEFA’s financial rules, a homegrown player in the first team is a gem. Though Madjo caught the eye for his goal and chances, Hemmings looks the more accomplished player at this stage.
Starting on the left, he was prepared to run fearlessly at Achraf Hakimi, probably the best right-back on the planet. He showed great maturity in possession, too, at one stage winning the ball from Nuno Mendes close to his own-goal line and casually chipping it to Emi Buendia. Expect to see plenty more of this kid in the weeks ahead.
Now Emery’s attention must turn to the market, where he has been fallible during his time at Villa Park. Despite Madjo’s display, another forward will surely arrive while Villa continue to make progress in deals for midfielder Joao Palhinha and left-back Matteo Ruggeri.
Villa have changed a great deal since they won the Europa League less than three months ago. Gone are Rogers and Tielemans, two of their scorers against Freiburg that night, while Digne was sitting on the PSG bench. Three of Emery’s coaching team have also moved on.
That meant only five of the starters in Istanbul featured here, with Ezri Konsa, Ollie Watkins and Emi Martinez still on their post-World Cup breaks. With Arsenal offering a £45million package for Konsa earlier in the day, it is unclear how many more times the England centre-back will wear Villa colours.
Emery and skipper John McGinn were bullish about the ‘new Villa’ on Tuesday and in the first half against PSG, we saw why. Though the majority of the PSG group are some way from full speed after the World Cup, they are still some of the world’s best players and it was stirring to watch Villa youngsters Hemmings and Madjo going toe to toe with them.
Hemmings was awarded an early free-kick by referee Omar Artan, the Somalian official who was denied entry to the United States ahead of the World Cup. Though Villa did not create anything from the free-kick, they had laid down a marker.
Even at half pace, PSG are incredibly dangerous when given a chance. After Marco Bizot had scooped away Desire Doue’s deflected shot, Madjo’s loose touch presented the ball to Vitinha. He found Doue and when Kvaratskhelia collected the ball, it was soon flying into the roof of the net from 15 yards.
Madjo’s effort beat the goalkeeper for pace after he connected with a John McGinn cross
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia broke the deadlock with a lashed finish for French side
Until then, Madjo had looked very raw and his technique needs refining – though there are few better coaches to do so than Emery. More importantly, he did not allow his head to drop and in the second part of the first half, PSG could not handle him.
Madjo headed two delightful crosses from McGinn over the bar, with the second a particularly bad miss. In between those chances, he had shot wide on an angle after more impressive work by Hemmings and seen another effort blocked following Emi Buendia’s run. Moments later, Madjo hit the outside of the post after holding off Pacho, though this was flagged offside onfield.
When Madjo did score, the opportunity was far tougher than those he had missed. From another McGinn cross, Madjo found his way on to the dangerous side of Pacho and volleyed beyond Matvei Safonov.
It was an uplifting end to the half for Villa, who deserved their equaliser. And soon after the break, they might have taken the lead.
Madjo was involved again, this time taking a pass from Buendia and charging into space behind PSG’s high line. He then fed McGinn, whose shot clipped Pacho and allowed Safonov a split second longer to make the save. Villa were still making the running though and just before the hour, Buendia headed over unmarked.
George Hemmings was another of the young Aston Villa stars lighting up the big stage
Unai Emery congratulates the PSG players after full time in Salzburg on Wednesday night
Against PSG, though, if you lose focus for the briefest moment you will be punished. Doue looked well offside when he took a pass from substitute Ousmane Dembele (not a bad player to be able bring on) and steered beyond Bizot.
The goal was ruled out on field but replays showed Matty Cash, half a yard behind the rest of Villa’s back four, had left Doue onside.
Back came Villa. Now it was Hemmings’ turn to break into the box and draw a save from Safonov.
PSG were looking increasingly dangerous on the break but in the closing 10 minutes, Alysson could not find the return pass to give fellow substitute Tammy Abraham an easy equaliser.
