Unai Emery has insisted that he has not lost the conviction that Aston Villa can reach the semi-final of the Champions League, despite their 3-1 defeat in the first stage of their quarterfinals with Paris Saint-Germain.
Underdogs Villa had been on Cloud Nine when they opened the score in the first half via Morgan Rogers, but were brought back to Earth when Doue an attempt to be an attempt in the upper corner a few minutes later.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia then made 2-1, and, just when it seemed as if Villa would go into the second stage on just a goal, Nuno Mendes doubled PSG's leadership.
PSG were already big favorites to win the draw before the kick -off, and will now be supported even more heavily, since they take an advantage of two goals in next week's match.
But that is not something that disturbs Emery too much. Villa is strong at home and since 18 games were not lost in Villa Park, a defeat that came to the Carabao Cup.
That is something that can play in their hands next week argued Emery – because he suggested that he was not too worried about the late goal.
“More or less the expectation I had before the game happened,” he told TNT Sports after the game. '[There is] Not much difference between 2 and 3-1, because we play at home next week.
'It will still be a huge challenge for us, but we can feel strong at home with our supporters. We had to be defensively strong, lower than normal, but even when we were losing, we had a free approach.
'[There were] Two shots from Morgan [Rogers] And one of Marco Asensio, the last goal, OK, but our mind does not change much because we now have to win at home.
Villa is often known for their high-line in terms of their defense, but had less than 25 percent of the ball in Paris and was forced to sometimes defend unnaturally deeply.
PSG generally had 29 shots, but Villa itself had seven, including some good chances. More will come, Emery was on, in the second stage.
“The first half we had three or four chances to get into the box,” he went on. 'We knew before the game that we also had to be clinical. We were in the first half, but not second, we tried to show our strength.
'PSG likes to keep possession, but today we were more in a low block, at home we might change. Hopefully we can get more moments to keep our momentum and possession.
'We are going to try to fight the result. We believe in Villa Park and that our players can give the versions. '