After suffering a tough 3-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, Aston Villa’s performance was heavily scrutinized, particularly by French newspaper L’Equipe.
The paper didn’t hold back in its ratings, giving two of Villa’s players brutal 3/10 scores.
Despite a valiant effort from the team, the night ended on a disappointing note, leaving Villa with a mountain to climb in next week’s second leg at Villa Park.
Nuno Mendes Secures Late Victory for PSG
PSG’s Nuno Mendes scored in stoppage time at the Parc des Princes, putting the French side in a commanding 3-1 lead ahead of the return leg.
Morgan Rogers had earlier given Villa the lead in the first half, but PSG’s Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia both struck to take control of the match.
Their individual brilliance was highlighted by L’Equipe, with the publication praising Doue’s long-range equalizer as a “pure masterpiece” and Kvaratskhelia’s display as a “feast for the eyes.”
Harsh Ratings for Aston Villa Players
While PSG’s star players received positive reviews, Villa’s performance was far from impressive in L’Equipe’s eyes.
Matty Cash and Jacob Ramsey were handed the lowest possible scores of 3/10. L’Equipe criticized Cash’s performance, noting how he struggled defensively and failed to win any duels.
His disappointing display led to his substitution at halftime after a yellow card in the 17th minute.
Ramsey, too, had a poor game, being blamed for allowing Kvaratskhelia to score in the second half.
Unai Emery’s Tactics Under Scrutiny
Aston Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, wasn’t spared from L’Equipe’s criticism either, receiving a low 3/10 rating for his tactical approach.
The newspaper suggested that Emery’s team lacked direction and was punished for not playing proactively.
The coach’s failure to adjust his tactics, particularly on the right wing, was also noted, as Villa struggled to contain PSG’s attacking threats.
Key Performances from Villa’s Morgan Rogers and Lucas Digne
Despite the heavy criticism of Villa’s overall performance, two players did manage to shine.
Morgan Rogers, who scored Villa’s lone goal of the night, and French left-back Lucas Digne were both given more favorable ratings, with each earning 6/10 for their efforts.
Rogers’ goal gave Villa a brief lead, while Digne’s defensive performance stood out as one of the few positives for Villa on the night.
Emery Stays Confident Ahead of Return Leg at Villa Park
Despite the heavy defeat, Unai Emery remained optimistic about his team’s chances ahead of the second leg.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Emery acknowledged the challenge ahead but remained confident that Villa could turn the tie around at home.
He emphasized the importance of being defensively solid at Villa Park, noting that the team would need to be clinical in front of goal.
Emery believes that with the support of the Villa Park crowd, they can still progress to the Champions League semi-finals.
L’Equipe’s Ratings: PSG vs Aston Villa
Here’s how L’Equipe rated the players from both teams after the match:
PSG:
- Gianluigi Donnarumma – 5
- Achraf Hakimi – 6
- Lucas Beraldo – 5
- Willian Pacho – 6
- Nuno Mendes – 6
- Vitinha – 6
- Joao Neves – 7
- Fabian Ruiz – 6
- Desire Doue – 8
- Ousmane Dembele – 6
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – 7
Aston Villa:
- Emiliano Martinez – 5
- Matty Cash – 3
- Ezri Konsa – 4
- Pau Torres – 5
- Lucas Digne – 6
- Youri Tielemans – 5
- Boubacar Kamara – 5
- John McGinn – 4
- Morgan Rogers – 6
- Jacob Ramsey – 3
- Marcus Rashford – 4
What’s Next for Aston Villa?
With the second leg looming next week at Villa Park, Aston Villa faces an uphill battle to progress in the Champions League.
They’ll need to put in a much-improved performance to overcome PSG’s 3-1 lead and secure a place in the semi-finals.
While the task ahead is daunting, Emery remains hopeful that his players can rise to the occasion and secure the necessary result on home turf.