The countdown is launched before the highly anticipated quarter-final of the Champions League between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa, next week. A double confrontation that marks the return to the Parc des Princes d'Inai Emery, former coach of the capital club (2016-2018).
If his passage to Paris remains marked by the painful “Rontoda” against Barça, the Basque coach has since brilliantly restored his coat of arms, winning a Europa League with Villarreal and doing a remarkable work at Aston Villa. He brought back the Birmingham club in the Champions League for the first time since 1983 and hoisted him to the quarterfinals. And as the shock approaches to his old club, Emery displays an overflowing confidence and ambition.
Emery is not afraid of his former PSG club.
Asked at a press conference (before the championship match against Brighton), Unai Emery did not hide his satisfaction as to the state of mind of his troops at the dawn of the final sprint.
“We are excited and we are demanding to be concentrated for the last two months in three competitions“, He said, referring to the Premier League, the FA Cup (semi-final) and the Champions League. He underlined the recent progress of his team, especially defensively (“we improve”), and insisted on the preparation of his group: “Everyone is ready and focused. (…) Now it's 100% football. These are the last two months and our goal is clear. »» Words that sound like a barely veiled warning towards Paris: Aston Villa arrives launched and determined.
PSG is warned: Emery does not come as a victim
Far from focusing only on PSG, Emery recalled that his team was playing on all fronts. “It's incredible the way we approach the last part of the season”he enthroned himself, while remaining aware of the difficulty: “We are aware of the difficulty and how much we have to improve. This global ambition, this desire to appear well everywhere, makes Aston Villa all the more dangerous. The Spanish coach feels his group rising in strength: “We recover injured players, and I think the players are going physically. (…) I have a lot of motivation for that. »»
The confidence displayed by Unai Emery is palpable. Accustomed to European games and renowned for its ability to tactically prepare for these major meetings, the Aston Villa coach will not come to the Parc des Princes as an expiatory victim. His message is clear: his team is ready, focus, and has high goals. For PSG, this warning must be taken seriously. The capital's club will face a formidable team, carried by a coach who will undoubtedly be keen to play a bad turn to his old training. The shock promises to be explosive.
