Reasons why Unai Emery’s Aston Villa should feel confident facing Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

With the likes of Ollie Watkins, Marcus Rashford, Morgan Rogers, and Marco Asensio leading the charge, Aston Villa head into their UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain with a healthy dose of confidence. The Villans believe they can cause an upset against the French giants.

PSG, fresh from a convincing victory over Liverpool in the last 16, are seen as strong contenders for the trophy they so desperately desire. Their performance against the Reds showcased their quality, and many pundits have tipped them as favourites to finally lift the coveted trophy.

However, Villa should not be underestimated. Unai Emery, who previously managed PSG, has bolstered his squad with the January loan signings of Asensio and Rashford, adding significant firepower to an already potent attack.

While it is expected that PSG will dominate possession over the two legs, the Premier League side possesses a considerable threat on the counter-attack.

On a special European edition of The Breakdown, pundits Owen Hargreaves, Rio Ferdinand, Joleon Lescott, Joe Hart, and Steve McManaman discussed what promises to be an intriguing encounter.

“I’d argue Villa’s squad is as strong. The changes they can make are as effective, especially with the likes of Asensio and Marcus Rashford now,” Lescott stated. “They’re arguably coached as well as any other team in the competition.”

Hargreaves echoed these sentiments, expressing doubts about PSG’s ability to go all the way and secure the title. “I couldn’t think of a better Villa team to counter PSG,” he remarked. “PSG will have all the ball, but Ollie Watkins, Marcus Rashford, Morgan Rogers, and Asensio… they’ll find space.”

He added, “To win the Champions League, you have to be able to win ugly. That sounds crazy, but you don’t win with 70% possession trying to outplay everyone. Real Madrid are the masters of winning not pretty. I don’t know if PSG can win ugly.”

Ferdinand pointed out another potential advantage for Villa: the fact that they will play the first leg away from home. With their return to the Champions League this season, the atmosphere at Villa Park has been electric. If they can stay competitive in the first leg at the Parc des Princes, the home support could prove pivotal in the second leg.

“The big thing in this fixture, and it’s something in European football, is where’s the second leg? It’s at Villa Park,” Ferdinand explained. “If they stay in the game from that first leg and the match is live when they get to Villa Park, we know what that atmosphere can be like. It can change everything.”

He concluded, “We saw PSG go to Newcastle last season with Mbappe and Co. and got obliterated on the day. An atmosphere can change everything.”