Aston Villa supervisor Unai Emery has advised his gamers to give attention to ending within the Premier League’s high 5 to qualify for the Champions League once more subsequent season, after being knocked out of the competitors on Tuesday night time.
Villa beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-2 at Villa Park within the second leg of their quarter-final, however it was not sufficient to undergo after a slim first-leg defeat. Nuno Mendes’ injury-time objective within the first leg proved essential, as PSG superior on combination regardless of Villa’s robust comeback.
Emery’s facet have been 2-0 down on the night time earlier than objectives from Youri Tielemans, John McGinn, and Moussa Diaby helped them struggle again to win 3-2. The end result wasn’t sufficient to overturn the 3-1 defeat in Paris, however Villa’s spirit and dedication have been clear.
“It’s necessary now to attempt to qualify once more for the Champions League,” mentioned Emery. “We performed two robust video games, and we have been very shut. At the moment, we performed higher, and I’m happy with the crew.
“The followers have been superb. Even after we have been 2-0 down, they gave us the vitality to push. We stored believing. We wish to be right here once more subsequent season, and now we should give attention to ending within the high 5.”
Villa’s Champions League run has been spectacular. They completed within the high eight of the league part, beat Membership Brugge comfortably within the spherical of 16, and pushed French champions PSG all the way in which within the quarters.
Captain John McGinn, who scored Villa’s second objective on the night time, shared his satisfaction after the sport.
“We’re disenchanted, however proud,” McGinn mentioned. “We confirmed character and high quality. We got here again from 2-0 in opposition to the most effective groups on the planet. We had possibilities to take it to additional time, however it simply wasn’t to be.
“We would like extra of this. We wish to come again stronger subsequent yr and play at this stage once more.”
He additionally praised Emery’s phrases at half-time: “He advised us he was proud and to maintain going. We believed, and we gave every little thing. The followers shall be happy with what we did tonight.”
Villa now have six Premier League video games left to attempt to safe Champions League soccer for subsequent season.
In the meantime, PSG boss Luis Enrique praised Villa’s depth and mentioned each legs have been carefully contested. “Aston Villa made it very troublesome. They performed with vitality, and we needed to give every little thing. That’s the extent of the Champions League,” he mentioned.
PSG captain Marquinhos additionally mentioned: “We believed till the tip. This competitors is hard, however we’re enhancing and consider we are able to win it.”
Elsewhere within the Champions League on Tuesday night time, Barcelona survived a scare regardless of dropping 3-1 to Borussia Dortmund. Their 4-0 first-leg win was sufficient to take them by. Actual Madrid will host Arsenal on Wednesday night time, whereas Inter Milan play Bayern Munich after successful the primary leg 2-1.
