Aston Villa is having a truly remarkable run in this year’s Champions League, with their eyes now set on reaching the semi-finals.
But to get there, they must overcome a tough challenge in Paris Saint-Germain.
With a manager like Unai Emery at the helm, the club’s transformation has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Prince William’s Praise for Unai Emery
Among the many who have been impressed with Villa’s rise is Prince William, who recently took his seat in the Parc des Princes among the Villa fans during their first European Cup quarter-final in over 40 years.
The future King couldn’t help but heap praise on Emery, who he described as “an absolute gentleman.”
Having witnessed the team in training, Prince William spoke highly of Emery’s leadership and attention to detail. He revealed that the Villa manager’s tactical brilliance is something he truly admires.
“We are so lucky to have a manager of Unai’s quality,” the Prince shared.
“He is an absolute gentleman, runs the club, looks after the players, and is such a tactician.
I try and get some nuggets from him but he is very dialed in.”
Aston Villa’s Dramatic Transformation Under Emery
When Unai Emery took over at Villa, the club was on the brink of relegation from the Premier League.
Fast forward almost three years, and Villa have become a much-improved side.
Prince William credits much of that transformation to Emery’s methods, particularly his focus on the finer details, like adjusting players’ positions by mere centimeters during training.
“That is a man who cares about the little details,” he noted. “And it rubs off on the players, injecting a real sense of confidence.”
Under Emery, Villa’s fortunes have turned around dramatically.
In addition to their impressive Champions League run, the club is also fighting for a top-five finish in the Premier League and has reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
Emery’s track record in knockout European competitions is phenomenal.
The 53-year-old has won 40 out of 49 such matches, boasting an 81.6% success rate.
Villa Takes the Lead But PSG Responds Strongly
Aston Villa entered their first-leg clash with PSG as underdogs but managed to stun the French giants by taking a surprise lead through Morgan Rogers.
However, PSG came roaring back, with stunning goals from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia either side of half-time.
Nuno Mendes sealed a 3-1 victory for PSG in added time, putting Villa in a challenging position ahead of the second leg.
Looking Ahead to the Return Leg at Villa Park
With the tie now heavily in PSG’s favor, Villa will have to mount a fierce comeback in next week’s return match at Villa Park.
It’s still uncertain whether Prince William will be in attendance for the second leg, but one thing’s for sure: Aston Villa’s incredible journey in the Champions League has captured the imagination of fans, including the royal family.
The next few days could very well define the future of the club’s European ambitions.