Wed Apr 09 18:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Aston Villa Ready for Parisian Clash Against PSG in Champions League
**Paris, France** – Aston Villa manager Unai Emery expressed excitement ahead of his team’s Champions League quarter-final clash against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The first leg takes place in Paris on Wednesday. Emery, whose Villa side upset Club Brugge to reach this stage, acknowledged the daunting task ahead, calling PSG one of the favorites to win the entire competition alongside Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona.
The match marks a return to Paris for Emery, who managed PSG from 2016 to 2018. He highlighted the historical significance of the occasion for Aston Villa, a club with a rich history, including a European Cup victory in 1982. “To be in the Champions League is amazing, but maintaining consistency is the next challenge,” he stated.
Emery is confident in his team’s capabilities, particularly praising the recent form of loanee Marcus Rashford. Rashford, who has a strong record against PSG from his time at Manchester United, has been instrumental for Villa, scoring three goals and providing four assists in twelve appearances. Emery noted Rashford’s happiness and freedom on the pitch as key factors in his success.
The Villa manager also showed respect for his counterpart, Luis Enrique, calling him “one of the best coaches in the world.” Their past encounters, including a memorable 6-1 aggregate defeat for Emery’s PSG against Enrique’s Barcelona in the 2017 Champions League, add another layer of intrigue to the matchup. Despite the challenge, Emery believes Villa possess the confidence to compete against the star-studded PSG squad.
First Piper 