The Paris Saint-Germain squad, bolstered by Portuguese players Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Vitinha, and Gonçalo Ramos, who remained on the bench, is heading to the UEFA Champions League semifinals. However, their journey was nearly derailed by Aston Villa in a nail-biting encounter at Villa Park.
Despite holding a 3-1 advantage from the first leg, PSG found themselves on the back foot. They initially took a 2-0 lead but struggled to maintain their momentum. The match was saved largely thanks to an outstanding performance by goalkeeper Donnarumma, who made several crucial saves to prevent a potentially disastrous outcome for his team.
Former French international Emmanuel Petit criticized PSG’s performance, stating that the players appeared to be intimidated by their opponents. On the After Foot program, Petit noted that when a team dominates the initial stages and gains a significant advantage, they sometimes become complacent. “You start playing too cautiously, and arrogance creeps into your game. You forget the principles that made you strong in the first place,” he said.
Petit pointed out that PSG’s players seemed to be hiding, often opting to pass the ball backward instead of pressing their opponents. “If they weren’t scared, they would have shown that character,” he added, recalling past instances where PSG was eliminated by Barcelona, Manchester United, and Real Madrid.
The French former footballer noted that the ghosts of PSG’s past were visible on the field. “The players were panicking, and so were the fans. They were on edge until the end. It’s something we thought we’d never see again from PSG. If it wasn’t for Donnarumma… Defensively, it was chaos. There was no control,” he said.
What’s Next for PSG?
PSG’s next challenge will be in the semifinals, where they’ll face either Arsenal or Real Madrid. The gunners currently hold a 3-0 advantage from their first-leg match in London.