Unai Emery has spoken of his excitement at facing his former club Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final stage with Aston Villa.
Emery’s side booked their place in the last-eight on Wednesday with a three-goal home win over Club Brugge to complete a 6-1 aggregate victory, setting up a tie against the French champions.
Villa’s 53-year-old manager was at the helm of PSG between 2016 and 2018, winning seven domestic trophies but unable to find success on the European stage.
“We are very excited and very motivated,” Emery said when asked about playing PSG in the quarter-finals.
“PSG showed their capacity against Liverpool who were the best team in Europe until yesterday. it is a huge challenge for the club, coaches, supporters and me.
“It is special because I haven’t come back since I left there. I haven’t been back to Paris since then and I will visit there playing against them. It will be fantastic.
“We are going to try and analyse our strengths and identify their weakness.”
Marco Asensio, who joined Villa mid-season from PSG on a loan deal, scored twice in the victory over Club Brugge and spoke of settling in at the club.
“Every match the atmosphere is top,” Asensio told TNT Sports after the match.
“We want more. Now we have a little break and to think about the upcoming objectives. I like to score there (Holte End). We’re adapting to the new players but we’re in the right way.
“Very comfortable. Very happy with the team-mates, the fans and the city. In one or two weeks we have time to think about this [PSG] game.”
Villa are back in action in their FA Cup quarter-final away to Championship side Preston North End on March 30 before travelling to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League three days later.
(Morgan Harlow/Getty Images)
