Unai Emery has enjoyed too much success in Europe to entertain the notion of glorious failure, but if there were ever a night that embodied it, Aston Villa’s dramatic Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain might just be it.
Their return to the elite stage after 42 years ended in heartbreak, yet Villa Park witnessed a performance that reminded the continent: this side belongs.
A Long Night Turns Electric
Villa looked out of their depth when Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes fired PSG into a 2-0 lead inside the first 30 minutes, stretching the Parisians’ aggregate advantage to 5-1.
A despairing fan muttered, “Start the car.” But he would’ve missed the comeback of a generation.
Youri Tielemans’ goal before the break gave Villa life, before a raucous crowd watched John McGinn and Ezri Konsa hit back in rapid succession.
PSG wobbled, their aura pierced by the underdogs who’d already sent Bayern Munich crashing out earlier in the campaign.
Emery’s Emotional Investment
Even for the usually reserved Emery, the stakes were deeply personal. Animated throughout, he sank to his knees in disbelief when Konsa narrowly missed an equaliser.
“We are ambitious. It is a big challenge, and we want the club to push for this level,” Emery said post-match.
“The most important competition is the Champions League.”
The Spaniard, who has made a career of mastering European nights, added:
“Hopefully we can come back quickly. Our squad showed it can respond at this level. They deserve to be here.”
Marcus Rashford’s Second Wind
Much had been made of Emery’s decision to start Marcus Rashford over Ollie Watkins. The Manchester United loanee struggled early but, like Villa themselves, grew into the contest.
He assisted Konsa’s goal and came agonizingly close to scoring himself, denied by the brilliant Gianluigi Donnarumma.
“He was on fire in the second half,” said one observer. But his long-term future remains uncertain.
The Road Ahead for Villa
The ovation at full-time wasn’t for a win — it was for belief restored. Emery, marching down the touchline with quiet fury and pride, knows this is just the beginning.
“We are in a process,” he said. “To get this level is the next step forward I want to try to build with Aston Villa.”
With six Premier League games left, Champions League qualification is the goal. And nights like this, with players like Konsa, McGinn, Tielemans, Kamara and Martinez shining, suggest it’s well within reach.
Barcelona Survive the Storm: Flick Eyes the Bigger Picture
Meanwhile, in Germany, Barcelona edged into the semifinals for the first time since 2019 — but not without enduring a scare.
Leading 4-0 from the first leg, Barça were humbled 3-1 by Borussia Dortmund as Serhou Guirassy netted a sensational hat trick. The tie ended 5-3 on aggregate, but the night left lingering questions.
Mixed Emotions Post-Match
“There wasn’t a great atmosphere in the dressing room,” admitted coach Hansi Flick. “Only when I reminded them, ‘Lads, we’re into the semifinal,’ did it lift a bit.”
Barcelona’s high standards mean this performance was met with disappointment, despite the result.
“We lacked everything we displayed in the first leg: pressing, closing passing lanes,” said defender Jules Koundé. “We made too many errors.”
Guirassy’s Hat Trick Exposes Barcelona’s Frailties
Barça’s rookies were tested in the cauldron of Signal Iduna Park. Wojciech Szczęsny gave away an early penalty, Jules Koundé was caught out repeatedly, and Lamine Yamal — playing his seventh game in 20 days — looked every bit a teenager under pressure.
Guirassy took full advantage, scoring from the spot, heading in a second after the break, and completing his hat trick after capitalising on Ronald Araújo’s mistake.
Flick Keeps Focus on Success
Despite the stumble, Flick maintained perspective: “What the team has done is phenomenal. We’re in three competitions, we’re in the Champions League semifinal. That’s a huge success.”
Barça remain top of La Liga by four points, have a Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid on April 26, and are now just two games from their first Champions League final in a decade.
“We didn’t show what we wanted today,” said Flick. “But what’s important is that we are in the semifinal.”
Caution Amid Comeback Talk
As banners reading “Barça are back” filled the away end, fans were reminded that a full return to European dominance isn’t yet complete.
The memory of Roma and Liverpool still haunts, and Dortmund offered a glimpse into those old wounds.
But with Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Yamal having already combined for 82 goals this season, and players like Pedri returning, Barcelona’s ambitions remain sky-high.
Whether it’s Emery’s defiant Villa or Flick’s rejuvenated Barça, the message is the same: the real test begins now.
Aston Villa will look to qualify again. Barcelona must prove they’ve outgrown their past.
As Flick aptly put it: “We have to view things positively… But we will analyse. What comes next is what matters.”
