Aston Villa have it all to do as we look to overturn a 3-1 deficit in the second leg of our Champions League quarter-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain next week.
Goals from Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Nuno Mendes saw the Ligue 1 champions come from behind after Morgan Rogers had given us a lead in the first half, with the hosts producing an impressive display to showcase their quality.
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It will take some effort to get the better of them next week at Villa Park as we’ll need to be perfect at both ends of the pitch and impose ourselves more effectively, with few likely to be backing us to pull off what would be a major upset.
For now though, focus switches back to Premier League matters this weekend as we continue our pursuit of a top-five finish to ensure we return to the Champions League next season, before the French giants arrive in B6 next Tuesday looking to avoid another European collapse.
PSG are a very, very good side
Full credit must go to PSG, as they showed just how good a side they are. From the way Luis Enrique has them set up to their intensity and energy off the ball to relentlessly press and force errors coupled with their technical ability and quality in possession to hurt us.
They were dominate from the start and ultimately deserved the win as the better side on the night, but Villa were gritty, resilient and organised to stay in the game, and so Unai Emery and our players deserve credit too for the shift that they put in.
Enrique noted after the game that their approach won’t change for the second leg as it’s in their DNA to play this way, and so we’ll have to formulate and execute a perfect gameplan that limits their threat, while trying to expose any frailties that they have to try and apply pressure on them and spark life into the tie.
Belief within the Villa camp to turn it around
While Emery and the players were obviously not going to come out after the game and concede that the tie is over, there was a bullish tone from the Villa boss and the squad when discussing the prospect of the challenge ahead in the second leg.
The late third goal could prove to be a decisive blow as overturning a two-goal deficit is certainly trickier, but there is a sense that the shackles could be off next Tuesday night at Villa Park, and the players can play with more of a sense of freedom and courage to take the game to PSG.
Naturally, that comes with it’s own flaws and concerns as the French giants are more than capable of pulling us apart if we’re too open, but there is a strong belief that this tie is far from over.
Full-back duels will be decisive
Villa did relatively well in packing the middle of the pitch and limiting the threat that PSG created in central positions. Where they did hurt us though was out wide with all three goals and most of their clearest chances coming from play on the flanks.
Whether it’s Matty Cash and Lucas Digne again or if Emery opts to change it and perhaps even goes with a different system, Villa have to be more clinical in their defending in the full-back areas to avoid conceding next week and letting the tie get away from us.
That’s obviously easier said than done when considering the talent that PSG boast, but if we harbour hopes of advancing to the last four of the competition, that has to be a point of emphasis.
Clinical, ruthless Villa needed next week
Simultaneously, if Villa aren’t clinical at the other end in front of goal, we could see our chances come and go very quickly against such a top-level side.
Our goal was wonderfully crafted in Paris on Wednesday night and that was the ruthlessness required, but there were other openings, particularly on the counter, where we could, and perhaps should, have done better.
With the onus on us next week to come out and play, the game could be a little different. Regardless, what must be true either way is that we take our chances and punish PSG for any openings they afford us.
Villa Park atmosphere will be critical
While this PSG squad is young, they’re already experienced and composed beyond their years, so there’s nothing to suggest that they will be rattled by a hostile atmosphere.
However, it’s absolutely vital that the atmosphere at Villa Park next week is raucous from the first minute and consistent throughout to give our players the backing that they need to pull this comeback off.
They’ll need to produce something on the pitch to get the crowd going too, but when there’s a synergy between the team and crowd and we come out flying early on in games, that can prove difficult for any team to deal with, and so getting that first goal and raising the noise levels could be imperative to our chances.
