Neymar called it one of the most important goals in the history of Barcelona. Sergi Roberto could not sleep after scoring. The image of the conquering Lionel Messi was everywhere. Many consider it the comeback of the Champions League of the century.
For Unai Emery, La Remontada, the 6-1 victory of Barcelona over his Saint-Germain side in Paris in 2017, which destroys a shortage of four goals from the first stage in France, represents something rather differently. It was an amazing defeat that threatened to define him.
Emery had a coincidence in Valencia and a trio of European trophies in Seville, but PSG was his chance to make memories in the Champions League – and this was not the kind that the owners of Qatar had in mind. They even lost their domestic title to Monaco.
That was at least recovered the following year when he led PSG to a domestic four -fold, but the ripple effects of that night in Barcelona nevertheless resonated. They formed his team selection in losing Real Madrid in 2018 and even the process of his career.
Eight years later, Emery is not only for the first time since his exit opposite his former club, but also Luis Enrique, now PSG head coach himself. The man who stated famous that “if they can score four, we can score six” and somehow sensational proven.
Is Emery about it? He has achieved enough to be relaxed about a reunion. Another Europa League win with Villarreal. Bring Aston Villa to a level that the club has not seen in more than 40 years. But in our first interview after taking over from Villa, he was the one who brought this up.
“I won the Europa League four times,” he told Sky Sports. “That is a lot of experience and many competitive moments. And I also had some defeats, as with PSG when we lost against Barcelona, ​​for example 6-1. And that experience helped me to improve.”
That was not the compelling emotion then. Neymar had suggested in advance to the faith of Barcelona. “We have the team. We can write history.” Then Emery took a less romantic picture. “We were eliminated because VAR did not yet exist,” he complained.
It was a curious evening. Barcelona had shown their vulnerability in the Parc des Princes, but a weakened PSG did not chose to test them again in the Camp Nou, the possibility of a comeback by leaning back and leaning two goals in the first half.
Messi made it early in the second three of the penalty spot, but the goal of Edinson Cavani silent the crowd and seemed to end the hope of Barca, the road objective, which means they needed three more. They still needed the three goals that entered the 88th minute.
It was in the intervening period that PSG felt robbed. Javier Mascherano jumped in on Angel di Maria while he prepared to shoot. The ball went. There was no punishment. “It is clear that it was a mistake,” Mascherano said afterwards. “I'm not going to lie about it.”
Emery was critical of the officials. “We had opportunities to take 3-2 and then the referee decisions, I don't know if they were right or not, but they certainly damaged us.” It was not as harmful as what came next. “Then, in the last minutes, we lost everything.”
What happened in those last minutes is the stuff of the legend. Neymar was central, scored two and set up the last in the fifth minute of the stop time. Messi has still stolen the front valves. That would have played his role in convincing Neymar to continue.
Lucas Digne, now from Villa, looked from the couch in Barcelona, ​​but Emery also felt like a bystander in the other dugout. The perception was that when the time came for PSG to show that they were ready to defeat the European elite, his team had been shaken out of the challenge.
“During that period of the game I saw that an important player who had had problems during the week had hidden himself,” said Emery Cryptic. “Maybe I should have changed him. Those little things are what a game can see of you slip away.”
He did not mention the player at the time, although some later concluded that Emery regretted his decision to remember Thiago Silva, the great defender whose fitness had been doubtful. He had missed the first stage. The temptation was to stay with the rear four.
Emery, presumably influenced by the idea that the experience of the Brazilian would be needed in the kettle of the camp well, brought him back. A coach noted that his analytical approach appreciated the psychological intangible assets about his tactical instincts.
Three years later, long after his departure from Paris, and Silva surprisingly left to Real Madrid on his side in the exit of the following season, Emery openly discussed his dilemma about the defender. “I wanted the team to defend higher,” he said.
“Thiago Silva is a super player, but I wanted him to defend higher and I was unable to convince him to accept that. I wanted him to leave his comfort zone so that the general pressure that our team exerted on the opposition could be more effective.
“I worked with him to accept that, but did not succeed. This property in the game of Thiago Silva echoed the rest of the team that, under pressure, had a natural tendency to withdraw. In Camp well I gave the instruction to go up higher. But it was not heard.”
Emery is not a man to forget the details and this is clearly one that has stayed with him. Maybe it will always be. These questions come again this week when he returns to Paris with Villa in this quarterfinals of the Champions League, where PSG still chases that elusive trophy.
Speaking with Kevin Trapp, the keeper who brought in six goals that night, he said: “I always try to convince everyone that the game no longer matters to me.” But it helps Trapp returned to Barcelona with Eintracht Frankfurt and she hit Europe.
That's football. There is always another game. A point acting, and perhaps now prophetically made by Luis Enrique that night in 2017. “We had lost everything in Paris. But this beautiful sport is unique. It always gives you the chance of revenge.”
Maybe this is Emery's turn.