PSG v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Rigadon]

The Champions League is meant to be about 'special nights'. We'll need a special night at VP. So what?

They're a very good side and the odds are against us but we're still in it. A goal in the first ten minutes at VP and who knows.

Exactly. It’ll be a totally different game and atmosphere next week. We’re in this on merit and all I ask is that we believe in ourselves (because evidently, a lot of commentators don’t). 
 

[Villafirst]

I know they're very good, but I thought we showed them too much respect. We never really tested them with any sustained pressure. We obviously need to be more on the front foot next Tuesday, but at the same time be wary of their quick transition on the counter. Just score first and it's game on!

[ChicagoLion]

I was at the game. Live in France and couldn’t get a ticket in the Villa end, so was in the Boulogne stand which was quite intense, right next to the Villa fans.

PSG are a fantastic team and fair play to them and Enrique, I like their players, especially that Georgian fella.

But the club is so tacky. Some aggressive fans, a tacky announcer, who actually gees fans up during the game, which I found pathetic, the Auteuil end trying to scare us with a skull (admittedly well designed) was woeful, as was the constant drumming and their mostly awful songs. The bloke behind me seemed to get off on calling Martinez a bitch throughout, and his cackle hurt my ears. The fireworks were tacky as hell too. If we don’t get past them, which is the most likely scenario, I hope Arse knock them out.

For the sake of balance, we had a couple of utter knobheads who spent more time sticking their fingers up at PSG fans than actually watching us. Not threatening, but total idiots and tedious.

Strange experience overall but a good bond with my son, his first Villa game.

I had a similar experience, the announcer chanting and starting songs to get the crowd going during the game was pathetic and really shouldn’t be allowed.
They re so proud of being around since 1979.it really was not fun being surrounded by the flag waving choreographed chanting plastic tossers.
On the pitch it was a well oiled sports car against a clunky Friday afternoon morris marina with a square wheel.If only we could have held on until half time, not capitulated at the start of the second half, then again in injury time. The ref gave us absolutely nothing and with no outlet they had so much possession and momentum ( Rashford is not a number 9)we got what we deserved.
Sure we will give it a go next Tuesday but I doubt we will stop them from scoring.

[OCD]

I know they're very good, but I thought we showed them too much respect. We never really tested them with any sustained pressure. We obviously need to be more on the front foot next Tuesday, but at the same time be wary of their quick transition on the counter. Just score first and it's game on!

Easier said than done with the way they were pressing us.

[Mister E]

Ball retention and the press were key. We didn't deal with their press well and did not execute ours well, either, which meant our ball retention was poor.
I didn't understand why Garcia, once purchased, wasn't in the Euro squad: several people have said that Disasi is a decent CB but lacks the pace and guile to operate as a RB.
They feared Rashford and doubled up on him throughout the game: next week we need to get more pace up front and test their defence - when we did, we scored.

[eye digress]

The Champions League is meant to be about 'special nights'. We'll need a special night at VP. So what?

They're a very good side and the odds are against us but we're still in it. A goal in the first ten minutes at VP and who knows.

Or even on 85 minutes.
But agree with your overall point: moments of doubt are part of the process of becoming champions. It looks super hard but we can do it. To do so, we will certainly need some of our best players to stick a few goals in top bins from 20 yards or from impossible angles. Just like PSG, actually.

UTV!

[Dick Edwards]

I’m remaining optimistic. We’re two goals down with the home leg to come. Next week is going to be like the Tranmere League Cup semi final at VP in 1994. An early Villa goal and the atmosphere will be unbelievable. A 3-1 win and Emi working his magic in the penalty shootout.

[OCD]

One encouraging thing is I don't think their defence is all that good, although I appreciate they'll have Marquinhos back.

[ROBBO]

i

[Bosco81]

Tough one to take against a really good team, we are still in the tie, we were always going to have to beat them at some stage, perhaps they will be a bit complacent now they got that late 3rd.

Felt sorry for Cash, he was a foul away from a booking, and then Konsa lost the ball and he had to cover for him, with a bit of a lunge.

Thought we took Ramsey off a bit early, as him and McGinn were doing well down their sides.

What a player McGinn is ? No matter whether you play him left, right or centre he performs well, must be hard moving around game to game, and then that tackle for our goal was what he is all about.

At least we’ve got plenty of options up front now to try and find a way through them, keeping them close to nil on Tuesday will be the harder bit I’d imagine.

[ROBBO]

If we can get one back in the first fifteen minutes the whole game changes, don't understand the negativity.

[Drummond]

We don't need an early goal. We just need 2 more than them.

[PaulWinch again]

If we can get one back in the first fifteen minutes the whole game changes, don't understand the negativity.

I’m not sure it’s negativity for the most part. I think most people are acknowledging just how good PSG were rather than being overall critical of us. Then I think it’s realism, there’s a small chance next week but a lot needs to change and a lot needs to go our way.

Many teams would have been obliterated last night, so we did well to just about still be in the tie. But it does illustrate the size of the task.

[saint13]

Kvaratskhelia Is a peach of a footballer. 😍😍😍

Best player on the park by a mile I thought.

[dorsetvillian]

Great experience in Paris last night. PSG are very good. The Villa game plan was executed pretty well and at 2-1 it would have been job done. I'm assuming we will be more aggressive and press higher at Villa Park. We risk getting caught on the break but we didn't actually see how PSG can cope with an aggressive high ppress.