Why Unai Emery’s Aston Villa have nothing to fear against Paris Saint-Germain in UEFA Champions League quarter-final

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During a European episode of The Breakdown, the TNT Sports panel analysed the UEFA Champions League quarter-final between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa. The sides collide over two legs on April 9 and April 15 - live on TNT Sports and discovery+. PSG are likely to start as favourites after beating Liverpool last time out, but Unai Emery’s Villa will be confident they can spring an upset.

Ferdinand backs PSG to land UCL title but warns Villa Park ‘atmosphere can change everything’

Video credit: TNT Sports

With the likes of Ollie Watkins, Marcus Rashford, Morgan Rogers and Marco Asensio in attack, Aston Villa should go into their UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain with plenty of belief they can spring an upset.

PSG toppled Liverpool in the last 16 and were deserving winners, with some viewing them as favourites to finally land the trophy they crave above all else.

But Villa are not to be underestimated. Unai Emery, the former PSG head coach, acquired the services of Asensio and Rashford in January loan deals, adding significant firepower to an already formidable Villa attack.

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So, while PSG will be expected to control possession over the two legs, the Premier League outfit carry a significant threat.

On a European special of The Breakdown, Owen Hargreaves, Rio Ferdinand, Joleon Lescott, Joe Hart and Steve McManaman looked ahead to what promises to be a fascinating match-up.

"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 said.

"They’re arguably coached as well as any other team in the competition."

Highlights: Asensio bags double as Villa cruise into PSG quarter-final

Video credit: TNT Sports

Hargreaves echoed those sentiments and expressed his doubt over whether PSG have the steeliness to go all the way and claim the title.

"I couldn’t think of a better Villa team to counter PSG," Hargreaves added. "PSG will have all the ball, [but] Ollie Watkins, Marcus Rashford, Morgan Rogers and Asensio… they’ll get space.

"I think 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 pop people off the park.

"Real Madrid are the masters of winning not pretty. I don’t know if PSG can win ugly."

According to Ferdinand, another factor that could work in Villa’s favour is the fact they go away for the first leg.

On their return to the Champions League this season, the atmosphere at Villa Park has arguably been unmatched, so if they can keep themselves in it at the Parc des Princes, the home support could just get them over the line.

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

"We saw PSG go to Newcastle last season with Mbappe and Co. and got obliterated on the day. An atmosphere can change everything."

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