Paris Saint-Germain went to the semi-final of the Champions League after improving the Villa of Aston, but they were forced to resist a spicy comeback
Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembele did not respond to being kindly awarded with the Man of the Match Award after his team beyond Aston Villa in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The wing player, who saw a goal was not allowed for offside, played his role when PSG lost the night 3-2, but progressed 5-4 on aggregated.
In images that are shared on social media, Dembele can be seen who ignores an employee who tries to award him the prize, although he later posed for a photo in his hands. After the game, the French international pointed to his frustration with the second half that his team almost cost a place in the semi -final.
“We thought we were too good. At 2-1 we thought we were already qualified and that it was over,” Dembele said, as translated by Doel. “That is how the Champions League goes. You are confronted with teams whose supporters are white -hot and they can turn the game upside down.”
After Nuno Mendes had added late shine to their first leg win, PSG hit Villa Park twice in the first half hour. Achraf Hakimi opened the score after taking advantage of a leakage by EMI Martinez, where colleague Full-back Mendes scored the second after another quick break.
Youri Tielemans withdrew one before the break, but the hosts needed three more. They got two quickly in a row, with John McGinn and Ezri Konsa on Target, and PSG needed goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to be in good shape to protect their benefits.
“Clear disappointment, but I am proud of my teammates, proud of the club,” said Villa scorer McGinn after the game. “We have taken a long way. We were so close tonight.
“We just got a little short. We had opportunities to bring the game to extra time, but we have to be proud of the way we come back to one of the best teams in the world to fight to the end.”
PSG Baas Luis Enrique was impressed by the atmosphere in Villa Park, but argued that his team deserved to continue with the two legs. The Ligue 1 champions will meet Arsenal of Real Madrid in the semi-final, where Arsenal has a 3-0 advantage after the first stage in London.
“We can't forget, this is the Champions League and the other team has a lot of quality,” the manager told Amazon Prime. “Aston Villa played with a lot of intensity. The entire two games, we deserved to win.
“The second year in a row in the semi -final and we want to go into the next phase. I think the best team in the world has, not just the best keeper. You have many quality players in a club like PSG. That is football and that is competition.”