Unai Emery says Aston Villa are ready to create something special at Villa Park as they prepare for a daunting Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Paris Saint-Germain.
Villa trail 3-1 from the first leg in Paris, where goals from Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Nuno Mendes gave PSG a firm grip on the tie.
The French champions have won 17 of their last 18 matches and have lost by more than one goal just once all season.
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But Emery, who once managed PSG, is refusing to give up.
The Spaniard knows the pain of a historic Champions League turnaround, having seen his PSG side collapse against Luis Enrique’s Barcelona in 2017 after holding a 4-0 first-leg lead.
Now, roles reversed, Emery is banking on Villa’s home form and the energy of the Villa Park crowd to inspire an unlikely comeback.
“We are going to enjoy something very, very special for our supporters and for us,” he said ahead of Tuesday’s clash.
“It’s going to be difficult, but we have to feel strong at home and prepare as best as possible.”
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Villa are making their first appearance in the Champions League since 1982/83, and Emery believes his team can rise to the moment.
“When we are playing this year the best football, we can get it,” he added.
Villa fans will be hoping their manager’s belief sparks one of the competition’s great comebacks.
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