Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique expressed his delight at his team’s progression to the Champions League semi-finals, although he noted there were challenging moments during the second half of their quarter-final second leg against Aston Villa, which ended in defeat.

The French club reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, despite suffering a 3-2 loss to Aston Villa in the away match at Birmingham.

“The second half was tough; it was quite challenging. However, I believe the team and players need to be prepared. We are thrilled to make it to the semi-finals for the second consecutive year, which is an admirable achievement,” Enrique stated, as reported on the club’s official website.

Having triumphed 3-1 in the first leg held in Paris, Paris Saint-Germain advanced with a 5-4 aggregate score.

Paris Saint-Germain initially led 2-0 in the second leg, but Aston Villa turned the match around with goals from Youri Tielemans at the 34-minute mark, John McGinn in the 55th minute, and Ezri Konsa in the 58th minute.

“The second half presented emotional challenges. Conceding two goals within three minutes was a crucial moment that could have led to our elimination. We need to refine certain areas of our gameplay, but overall I am pleased,” Enrique added, expressing gratitude towards the fans for their unwavering support.

In the semi-finals, Paris Saint-Germain is set to face the winner of the upcoming second leg between Arsenal and Real Madrid, after the English side secured a 3-0 victory in the first leg held in London.

Aston Villa coach Unai Emery conveyed his pride in his team’s performance during the quarter-final second leg.

“We aimed to maintain the same lineup but with a revised game plan, targeting their weaknesses while leveraging our strengths at home. The fans fueled our energy and determination, playing a pivotal role in our response after trailing 0-2. They supported us tremendously, allowing us to stage a comeback and ultimately secure victory. We came close to scoring another goal to level the aggregate but fell short. We should take pride in our efforts,” Emery commented.

Emery further mentioned that upcoming Premier League clashes against Newcastle and Manchester City will serve as significant tests for his team.

“We have matches against Newcastle and Manchester City this Sunday, which will be an excellent opportunity to gauge our response,” Emery said.

The top five clubs in the Premier League are guaranteed direct qualification for next season’s Champions League, and Emery highlighted that securing one of those spots is the primary objective for his squad, ensuring Aston Villa remains competitive in European tournaments.

“Our goal is to consistently qualify for European competitions. Last year, we reached the semi-finals of the Conference League, and this year we’ve progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The Champions League is the pinnacle of European competition and the toughest to achieve. That will be our focus as we approach the final six fixtures in the Premier League,” concluded the Aston Villa coach.

News