Unai Emery has secret plan as Aston Villa target major PSG upset
Aston Villa have the opportunity to create history when they take on Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park on Tuesday night.
Unai Emery takes on his former club for round two as Luis Enrique’s French champions arrive on British shores with a 3-1 aggregate advantage in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Villa would etch an iconic night into the folklore of their history if they were to mount the improbable comeback of which their fans have dreamed since last week in Paris.
Aston Villa plan revealed for ‘major upset’ v PSG
Aston Villa know how to stamp down an opening marker against PSG, with Morgan Rogers having given the Villans the lead in the first leg in Paris.
Granted, it didn’t last long and Enrique’s men eventually got into full flow, but that goal at least gives Villa a chance heading into a second leg with an anticipated electric atmosphere.
Ian Darke has covered all manner of European matches for Sky Sports, ESPN and TNT Sports down the years and has revealed Villa must score inside the opening quarter of the game to have an opportunity.
Darke also talked up Emery’s European pedigree, and how he could be a secret weapon in what he admitted would be a “major upset” against a side looking unstoppable of late.
“Score an early goal in the first 20 minutes. That can unsettle and unnerve PSG,” he exclusively told Villa News.
“But they did go to Anfield while behind in the tie, came back and prevailed. Enrique has created a real band of brothers while maintaining all the creativity and flair.
“What does work in Villa’s favour is they have a European maestro in Unai Emery, who will have a plan. Having said that, it would be a major upset if they were to topple PSG and go through to the semi-finals.”
Emery v Enrique becomes classic European battle
Emery is very well-versed in Europe, and comes up against Enrique who has enjoyed his fair share of trophies down the years.
| Unai Emery | Luis Enrique | |
| 53 | Age | 54 |
| 21 | Years managing | 17 |
| 9 | Major trophies won | 11 |
| 9 | Club teams/national sides managed | 6 |
It will be intriguing to see how the Aston Villa boss sets out his team, whether they want to stamp down their home authority early or be slightly more tentative in the knowledge PSG are devastating in attack.
Tuesday could also provide a platform for Marco Asensio to redeem himself after missing two penalties at Southampton on Saturday – and what better stage than against his parent club in the Champions League?