Unai Emery Weighs His Options as Aston Villa Chases Historic Comeback Against PSG
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is keeping his cards close to his chest ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Paris Saint-Germain, as his side looks to overturn a daunting 3-1 deficit at Villa Park.
A key talking point heading into the match: Will Marcus Rashford and Ollie Watkins start together up front? Emery doesn’t think so—at least not yet.
“The next step, if I have time, is to play them together,” Emery said during Monday’s press conference. “We’ve used Rashford out wide, but now we’re working with both as central strikers. That’s a test I want to run—but not in this moment, not without proper preparation.”
Rashford, who’s hit a purple patch on loan from Manchester United with three goals in recent weeks, is pushing for a bigger role. Meanwhile, Watkins—fresh off scoring in Villa’s 3-0 win over Southampton—is now up to 15 goals on the season.
Emery praised the form of his players but emphasized that tactical clarity and emotional control will be crucial if Villa are to pull off a dramatic turnaround.
“I don’t yet have the starting XI decided,” Emery admitted. “I’ve got a match plan in mind—90 minutes, maybe extra time, maybe penalties. Every player has a task. They must know it and execute it under pressure.”
While Villa are chasing a Champions League semifinal berth that would etch their name into club history, Emery made clear this isn’t just about tactics—it’s about belief.
“We want to write history with Aston Villa,” he declared.
On the other side, PSG manager Luis Enrique dismissed the idea that his team are firm favorites despite their first-leg cushion.
“Yes, we were better in Paris and deserved to win. But that’s over,” Enrique said. “This is a new story. We still have to prove we deserve the semifinal.”
Enrique warned that PSG won’t play cautiously despite their lead, and expects Villa Park’s atmosphere to be a defining factor.
“We expect pressure, passion, energy,” he said. “But that motivates us. Whether we’re home or away, we want to be the more competitive team.”
As the stage is set for a potentially epic European night in Birmingham, both Emery and Enrique know one thing: nothing is guaranteed—especially in the Champions League.
