Aston Villa exit Champions League with pride after PSG thriller

Unai Emery hails Aston Villa's progress despite 5-4 aggregate loss to PSG.

Aston Villa players look dejected after being eliminated from the UEFA Champions League on aggregate, despite winning the 2024/25 quarter-final second leg match against Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park on April 15, 2025, in Birmingham, England. (c) Aston Villa/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Aston Villa exit Champions League with pride after a dramatic 3-2 win over Paris Saint-Germain at Villa Park, falling just short of a historic comeback in their quarter-final tie. Despite the 5-4 aggregate loss, manager Unai Emery praised his team’s fight, spirit, and growth, declaring that their journey in European football is far from over.

A valiant fightback at Villa Park

With the odds heavily stacked against them after a 3-1 first-leg defeat in Paris, Aston Villa walked onto the pitch at Villa Park knowing they needed a near-perfect performance to overturn the deficit. The task became even steeper as PSG struck twice inside the opening half-hour through Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes, extending their aggregate lead to 5-1.

But Villa, urged on by a deafening home crowd, refused to bow out quietly. Youri Tielemans lit the spark with a powerful strike that found the back of the net, giving fans hope. Just before the break, John McGinn added a second with a clever finish, and suddenly the mood inside Villa Park shifted.

Early in the second half, Ezri Konsa added another, narrowing the gap to just one goal on aggregate. The stadium roared as Emery's men pushed for an equaliser. Marcus Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, was a constant threat, linking up fluidly with Leon Bailey and Moussa Diaby. But every effort was met by the towering Gianluigi Donnarumma, whose world-class saves ensured PSG held on.

Emery sees progress despite heartbreak

For Unai Emery, the performance was a sign of how far Aston Villa have come since he took over in 2022. Speaking after the match, the Spaniard said, "I'm very proud of everything we did. To get to this level is the next step forward that I want to try to build with Aston Villa."

The supporters inside Villa Park echoed that sentiment, standing to applaud their team at the final whistle. Emery added, "Today it was fantastic how we were feeling here with our supporters. The crowd was fantastic. They enjoyed it as much as we did."

This run in the Champions League marked Villa’s first appearance in Europe’s elite competition since 1983. It included a memorable group stage win over Bayern Munich and a round-of-16 victory that electrified the fanbase. Though they fell short of reaching the semi-finals, Villa’s campaign has restored the club’s continental credentials.

Eyes set on a Champions League return

Aston Villa now face a tight race to return to the Champions League via the Premier League. With six games left, they sit seventh, only one point behind fifth-placed Manchester City. A top-five finish this season would likely be enough to secure qualification, thanks to England’s strong coefficient ranking.

“Through Premier League is very difficult,” Emery admitted. “It’s the more demanding objective we can have — to get again Champions League.”

He continued, “The challenge we have now is for the last six matches we are going to play, try to get Europe and try to get Champions League. And in case not, the Europa League or Conference League.”

The club's resurgence under Emery has not gone unnoticed, and key to that rise has been Marcus Rashford. Since arriving on loan from Manchester United in January, Rashford has rediscovered form and confidence. His performances have added sharpness to Villa’s attack and Emery hopes to make his stay permanent.

"Probably he's feeling comfortable, probably he's feeling better and today he played a fantastic match," Emery said. "We are happy with him and he's happy with us."

PSG survive scare and eye semi-final challenge

On the other side, PSG were relieved to escape with their place in the final four intact. Luis Enrique’s side looked comfortable after their two early goals, but the second half was a different story. Overrun by Villa’s energy and tenacity, they had Donnarumma to thank for several key saves that kept them ahead on aggregate.

"I think I have the best squad in the world, not only the goalkeeper," Luis Enrique said when asked about Donnarumma. "Gio is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and I have to say that match for us is something that allows us to grow up and try to compete even better."

For PSG, the dream of a first-ever Champions League title lives on. They now await either Arsenal or Real Madrid in the semi-finals, with Luis Enrique hoping his players have learned valuable lessons from the scare at Villa Park.

“We were at our best in the first half,” Enrique said. “But we lost control in the second. This is the Champions League — you need to be sharp for 90 minutes. Villa were great tonight. We survived, and now we have to be even better in the semis.”

A season of growth for Aston Villa

Although Aston Villa exit the Champions League this season, the experience has been transformative. From being considered underdogs to pushing one of Europe's elite clubs to the brink, Emery’s side has shown that they belong on the biggest stage.

The blend of experienced internationals like Tielemans, McGinn, and Konsa with emerging stars such as Jacob Ramsey and Bailey has given Villa a well-balanced squad. The spirit shown against PSG was not an isolated moment but the culmination of months of progress under a coach who has won this competition’s sister tournament, the Europa League, four times.

Villa fans will now turn their hopes to the Premier League run-in. With belief, a resurgent squad, and Emery at the helm, another Champions League campaign could soon be on the horizon.

Six crucial Premier League fixtures remain. Every point, every goal, every save will count. If Aston Villa can harness the same fire they showed against PSG, they have every chance of booking their place in Europe once more. The journey isn't over — it’s just beginning.