Last night, I sat down with the usual mix of nerves and excitement to watch Aston Villa take on Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final. As a Villa fan, I’ve been feeling confident lately—our form in the Premier League has been nothing short of fantastic, unbeaten in seven games until this 3-1 defeat. We’re still in the FA Cup, dreaming of silverware, and with the investment pouring into the club, not to mention the quality of our players, I genuinely believed we could hold our own against PSG. So why, oh why, did it feel like we couldn’t compete? Why couldn’t we hold onto the ball longer than we did? I’m still scratching my head in wonderment.
Going into the match, I was optimistic. We’d taken the lead through Morgan Rogers in the 35th minute—a beautifully worked goal that had me leaping off the settee. Youri Tielemans’ cross, Rogers’ finish at the far post—it was the kind of moment that made me think, “This is it! For a glorious four minutes, it felt like we were the ones dictating the game. But then, PSG struck back. Desire Doue’s curling rocket levelled things up before halftime, and in the second half, Kvaratskhelia and Nuno Mendes added two more stunners to leave us trailing 3-1.
But what baffles me most is how we couldn’t keep the ball. We’ve got fantastic players—Emiliano Martínez, one of the best keepers in the world; Marcus Rashford, John McGinn, the heartbeat of our midfield; and Marco Asensio, who’s been a revelation in a Villa jersey this season. We’ve got the tactical nous of Unai Emery, so why did it feel like PSG’s stars—Dembele, Kvaratskhelia, and Mendes—were just playing at a different level? Why couldn’t we string passes together and control the game like we’ve been doing in the league this season?
Our form going into this game should’ve given us confidence. Seven wins on the bounce across all competitions, including that stunning Bayern Munich win at Villa Park earlier in the campaign—it’s the kind of run that makes you believe anything’s possible. So did PSG exposed something in us last night? Maybe it’s the gulf in individual quality; their teamwork and goals, the kind of skill that costs tens of millions. Doue’s curler, Kvaratskhelia’s powerful run, Mendes’ deft finish—each one felt like a reminder that their squad is packed with players who can turn a game on its head in an instant. We’ve got talent, no doubt, so why haven’t we got that level of magic across the pitch?
Look, Rogers’ goal showed we can hurt anyone on our day. Villa Park next Tuesday will be rocking, and a two-goal deficit isn’t impossible to overturn with our fans behind us, though I think that is wishful thinking on my part. But last night left me with a lingering question: why couldn’t we impose ourselves more? We’ve got the investment, the players, the manager—everything’s in place for us to compete with the elite. Yet PSG made it look like we are many steps behind.
Maybe it’s a harsh lesson in what it takes to reach the Champions League’s final four—or perhaps it’s a psychological hurdle we just can’t get over. Our league form proves we’re a very good side, and no one can deny that we’ve been very competitive in Europe up until last night. It’s all so frustrating, because I just feel like we could have shown more out there, performance-wise, than we did. UTV