Reaction from Villa Park as Aston Villa beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-2 but are knocked out of the Champions League in a 5-4 aggregate defeat.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Aston Villa are out of the UEFA Champions League despite beating Paris Saint-Germain 3-2 here at Villa Park.
00:08Having got two goals down in the first half, goals from Akra Kikimi and Nuno Mendes, Villa fought back.
00:13Goals from Uri Tielemans, John McGinn and Esri Konza to make it 3-2.
00:18Had so much hope with about half an hour left in the game. 5-4 down on aggregate, 3-2 up on the night.
00:24But unable to get that fourth goal to take the match to extra time.
00:27But PSG, so, so professional as they always are.
00:31They were time-wasting in the end.
00:33There were only three minutes added on, much to the frustration of the home support here at Villa Park.
00:37But the Parisians able to narrowly hold on for their victory to progress through to the last four of this competition.
00:44It was always expected that Villa were going to get knocked out tonight after the 3-1 defeat away in Paris last week.
00:50And when they went two goals down, that feeling was concrete.
00:55There was no belief really anymore after such a loud and promising beginning to the game.
01:00But, Uri Tielemans, I mean, fair play to the man.
01:03Been so, so consistent for Villa this season.
01:06He's played so often when he's been knackered, playing every three or four days.
01:10Gets a very deserved goal.
01:12Deflected albeit, but a deserved goal nonetheless before half-time to give Villa a fighting chance.
01:17And then, Emery must have said something incredible in that half-time team tour because Villa came out firing.
01:22Yes, in the first half, I think they probably edged it.
01:25But at the start of the second, they blew PSG away.
01:27They got two quick-fire goals to really throw the cats amongst the pigeons.
01:32The first goal from John McGinn, or the second for Villa on the night.
01:35But the first of the late comeback, sprinting from his own half.
01:39Paul Torres actually gets his assist for this, even though he made a simple layoff.
01:42John McGinn sprinted through about 40, 50 yards with the ball before thinking,
01:47you know what, I'm going to let fly from 25 yards.
01:50Struck, deflected off William Pacho, looped over G.L. Luigi, Donnarumma, and into the net.
01:56You're thinking, okay, 2-2 on the night, 5-3 down on aggregate.
01:59Can Villa do something here?
02:00Before you can even regather your thoughts, Ezra Konza made it 3-2 to Villa, 5-4 down on aggregate.
02:06Fantastic, fantastic work from Marcus Rashford down on the right-hand side.
02:10Beat two PSG defenders, got to the byline, showed great composure to cut the ball back to Konza,
02:15who had a striker's finish, you've got to say, curling the ball first time into that bottom right-hand corner.
02:20Then, there was about half an hour to go, you're thinking, oh my word, what is happening here?
02:25It's going to be one of those incredible, famous Champions League comebacks.
02:28And, well, it was on the night, 2-0 down to go 3-2 up at Villa Park.
02:33Unfortunately, though, PSG, having had a real scare with those two goals they conceded in quick fashion,
02:40were able to regain control of the ball, able to tick down that clock.
02:45And then those added minutes, only three of them, a real surprise,
02:49because obviously there were several goals scored, there were loads of substitutions,
02:53and PSG were wasting time at every given opportunity.
02:56But, you have to say, Luis Enrique has got his side drilled very well.
03:00They're one of the favourites of this competition for a reason,
03:03and they were able to hold on in a very professional performance.
03:06It kind of goes down to the 3-1 defeat last week, that third goal.
03:09We all said it when Nuno Mendes scored that goal.
03:12Oh dear, two-goal disadvantage here.
03:14Villa are going to really struggle, and that proved pivotal in the end.
03:17Of course, winning here at Villa Park, an incredible performance,
03:20an incredible night to remember for a very long time.
03:23But, the road in the Champions League comes to an end at the quarterfinal phase.
03:27Now, the attention will go back to the Premier League,
03:29the FA Cup semi-final as well, upcoming against Crystal Palace.
03:33Can Villa secure that top-five finish to get Champions League football again?
03:37They've had a taste of it this season.
03:38They've absolutely loved every moment.
03:40Hopefully, Emery's men can do it and get into that elite competition again next year.