Unai Emery needs Aston Villa to be “protagonists” after they face Paris Saint-Germain within the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday.
The Spaniard is gearing up for a “particular and spectacular” return to Parc des Princes, the place he spent two seasons in control of PSG between 2016 and 2018.
He does so with a Villa aspect filled with momentum, having secured a top-eight end, earlier than cruising to a 6-1 mixture victory over Membership Brugge within the final 16.
They’ve additionally gained every of their final seven matches in all competitions, firing themselves into competition for a second successive top-four Premier League end within the course of.
And Emery is concentrated on main Villa to constant success at Europe’s high stage.
Tomorrow night time. pic.twitter.com/tDLeDZQsKC
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) April 8, 2025
“After I got here to Aston Villa, it was a problem. I wished to win titles, to be in Europe,” he advised reporters throughout his pre-match press convention. “To be within the Champions League is unbelievable, however to do it persistently is my subsequent problem.
“To play in Paris, a quarter-final, is one thing particular and spectacular for all of us concerned on this membership. However we wish to be constant at this stage. We’re very assured to have possibilities and to take pleasure in ourselves.
“What I did right here is in my backpack. It’s particular for me to be again in Paris, particularly due to the circumstances. I’m making an attempt to fulfil my duty to the membership I’m at, to get the very best out of the staff, out of the gamers.
“[PSG are] taking part in incredible soccer. They’re competing, which Luis Enrique’s groups have at all times finished, dominating with superiority within the league and within the Champions League. In opposition to Liverpool, they confirmed huge power.
“Within the urgent, they’re superb with the gamers they’ve, and they’re being so, so aggressive and intense in every motion they’re doing all around the subject. We wish to compete and be protagonists on the sector.”
