Unai Emery issued a passionate rallying cry to Aston Villa fans on April 14, 2025, insisting their fervor could spark a stunning Champions League comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-final second leg on April 15, trailing 3-1 from the first leg.
Speaking at a packed press conference, Emery emphasized Villa Park’s unbeaten streak, 15 straight wins in Premier League and Champions League matches since August 2024, as the key to toppling PSG, who secured their lead on April 8 with clinical goals from Désiré Doué, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and a late Nuno Mendes stunner. “Our supporters can make the impossible real,” Emery declared, pointing to Villa’s 3-0 upset over Bayern Munich in October 2024. “Two goals, maybe three, we’re ready to fight.”
Villa face a formidable challenge, with PSG winning 17 of their last 18 matches, per UEFA data, but Emery, who coached PSG from 2016-18, draws confidence from Villa’s 3-0 Premier League thrashing of Southampton on April 12.
Morgan Rogers’ first-leg strike, assisted by Youri Tielemans, showcased Villa’s pace, though Emiliano Martínez endured 29 shots in Paris. Emery’s strategy leans on Ollie Watkins, fresh from a Southampton goal after a knee scare, and new signing Marcus Rashford, who troubled PSG’s backline. PSG’s past collapses, like their 2018-19 loss to Manchester United, offer hope, per BBC analysis.
Emery hinted at penalties as a “bonus chance,” with 42,000 fans expected to roar Villa toward their first semi-final since their 1982 European Cup win. As tension builds, Emery’s faith in Villa’s spirit faces PSG’s star-studded might.