Aston Villa boss Unai Emery says his side will travel to Paris for their Champions League quarter-final first leg with confidence after racking up a seventh win in a row.
Villa beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 to boost their chances of returning to Europe’s biggest stage next season thanks to goals from Morgan Rogers and Donyell Malen in the opening 15 minutes.
They have real momentum as they set sights on a second successive year of Champions League qualification.
They could still do that by winning this year’s competition and now head to face Paris St Germain for the club’s biggest game since their European Cup quarter-final loss to Juventus in 1982.
“We are motivated. We’re excited,” former PSG boss Emery said ahead of a return to the Parc des Princes.
“They are favourites but we are going to try to play those two matches, preparing as best as possible, competing, analysing how we have to adapt to them, how we can impose and dominate with our structure tactically.
“We are very motivated to prepare those matches.
“It’s a different match to today, we are going to analyse and identify how we can face Paris St Germain. We are going to prepare two legs.
“Everything we are doing, we are analysing and trying to get better. There are a lot of things positive and a lot of things I want to check we can do better.”
Forest have aspirations of their own to be in next season’s Champions League, though they were hurt by a defeat which could have at least been a draw.
Jota Silva got them back into it in the second half but they missed a host of opportunities to level in the absence of injured strikers Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi.
Asked if the result would have been different had one of those players been fit, boss Nuno Espirito Santo said: “We never know. What we tried was to try and find solutions.
“But for me, football is strikers, you know what I mean. So we miss Chris and you miss ‘T’, because the way we play, the way we do things, we need a reference player.
“It’s very harsh on Anthony (Elanga) and Callum (Hudson-Odoi) and Jota (Silva) and (Roman) Sosa to do the same. It’s not the same.
“This was probably one of the matches that we created more chances. Disappointed. Disappointed, not only of the chances that we created and didn’t achieve.
“I thought the way we started the game first half, not so good, much better the second half. But the feeling is of disappointment.”
Let's start our Daily Laugh today.Poor Man Utd Napoli step up talks over Darwin Nunez deal Man City's Cherki wants Man Utd revenge This is why Trent can speak Spanish How are there 2 Mbappes? Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t retiring anytime soon. This is what football is all about. Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Justtoonit, originaltrollfootball)...
Ruben Amorim and Manchester United might have an advantage in the race for Frankfurt's standout attacker Hugo Ekitike as he attracts Prem interestMan Utd might have an advantage in the race for Hugo EkitikeManchester United might have an advantage in the race for Frankfurt standout Hugo Ekitike.The 22-year-old has been linked with a move to the Premier League this summer, with United, Chelsea and ...
KYLE WALKER has agreed to join Everton on a one-year deal. The England right-back has been locked in talks with Toffees chiefs since his return from his loan spell at AC Milan. Kyle Walker is bringing the curtain down on his glorious Man City careerEverton and current club Manchester City will now thrash out whether it is a permanent deal or just a 12-month loan while he sees out the remainder of ...
Chelsea have enquired about Lyon sensation Malick Fofana as they continue to look for Jadon Sancho's replacement.Chelsea eye move for Lyon's FofanaBlues looking for Sancho's replacementChelsea face LAFC in Club World Cup on MondayWHAT HAPPENED?Per The Athletic, the Blues have made a verbal enquiry about 20-year-old Lyon winger Fofana as they look to bolster their squad in the summer transfer windo...
Everton keen to rival Fenerbahce for WalkerPer journalist Mike McGrath, Everton have shown interest in signing Kyle Walker after the Manchester City star failed to secure an AC Milan move.Last week, reports emerged in the Turkish media that Fenerbahce are keen on signing the veteran full-back as Jose Mourinho is aiming to bolster his squad ahead of the new season. Fenerbahce have even formally sub...
Arsenal, Man Utd ask Real Madrid to name Brahim priceArsenal and Manchester United have sounded out Real Madrid over a price for Brahim Diaz.The former Manchester City midfielder has attracted enquiries from both Premier League giants, says Okdiario.For his part, Brahim is settled in Madrid, though there is concern inside his camp over the imminent arrival of Franco Mastantuono from River Plate.Th...
DONE DEAL: Celta Vigo sign permanently Ilaix from RB LeipzigCelta Vigo have signed permanently Iliax Moriba from RB Leipzig.The midfielder had spent last season on-loan with Celta, which have now decided to sign him permanently from RBL for a fee of €6m.Celta announced today: "RC Celta has exercised the purchase option agreed upon last summer with RB Leipzig and has completed its second sign...
Japhet Tanganga's Millwall contract includes a modest £1.2m release clause (Image: Getty)Crystal Palace are interested in signing Japhet Tanganga from south London rivals Millwall. But the Eagles' pursuit of the defender will depend on the sale of Marc Guehi, who is once again attracting interest from some of the Premier League's top sides.Tanganga has spent the past 18 months at The Den, ini...
Andre Onana is set to remain Man Utd's starting goalkeeper (Image: NurPhoto, NurPhoto via Getty Images)Andre Onana is poised to remain as Manchester United's first-choice goalkeeper next season. Despite the Reds' boss Ruben Amorim desiring a new No. 1, seeking a replacement for Onana isn't high on the agenda as United focus on revamping a squad that ended up in 15th place last season.United had an...
Jack Grealish has been left out of Man City's Club World Cup squad (Image: Getty)Liverpool could play an important role in saving Jack Grealish from his Manchester City nightmare this summer. The former Aston Villa talisman has been left out of Pep Guardiola's Club World Cup squad and put up for sale, with City hoping to recoup some of the £100million they paid four years ago, or at least eas...
- 1 Jack Grealish set to leave Man City this summer
- 2 PSG vs Atletico Madrid Prediction 16 June 2025
- 3 Laura Woods gives update on post-pregnancy body
- 4 Chloe Kelly enjoys sun-kissed holiday as Arsenal star rests before Euro 2025
- 5 DONE DEAL: Marseille confirm CJ Egan-Riley signing from Burnley
- 6 'If you want to understand, it's really obvious' – USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino responds to Christian Pulisic, eager to move past off-field drama
- 7 Tottenham make 'mega £70m bid for Bryan Mbeumo' as Man Utd fear hijack
- 8 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 9 Daily Laugh - Liverpool are spending big
- 10 Portugal and France play out draw to start U21 Euro campaign