Aston Villa are preparing to face Paris Saint Germain (PSG) in the Champions League quarter-finals. An all English matchup means it’s a big milestone for manager Unai Emery. This will be Pochettino’s first face-to-face meeting with Luis Enrique since that notorious 6-1 drubbing to Barcelona in 2017. That final match still haunts Emery’s memory. The next game is taking place in Paris. Look for tension to run high as each coach draws on their own emotional experience.
Barcelona put on the greatest comeback in history in that 2017 match. They not only pulled off the unprecedented comeback from a 4-0 first leg deficit, but solidified their place in footballing history. Neymar, who played for Barcelona at the time, described that victory as one of the most important moments in the club’s history. The game not only showcased Lionel Messi’s brilliance—he scored a crucial goal—but featured a controversial tactical decision by Emery.
Unai Emery prepared his players for the intense atmosphere they would face at Camp Nou. He implored all of his players to take up a more advanced defensive line. He found it difficult to persuade Thiago Silva to leave his comfort zone to execute this plan with the necessary intensity. Barcelona took advantage of PSG’s deficiencies to dish out a historic knockout punch. The outcome was an emotional and crushing loss for Emery.
Though it’s bittersweet looking back at that match, Emery is adamant he’s put it behind him and moved forward. He stated, “I always try to convince everybody that game does not matter anymore for me.” What is undeniable is the impact those experiences, particularly that initial meeting, have had on his mindset and subsequent approaches to man management. In the 2018 Champions League clash against Real Madrid, Silva’s fitness became a pivotal factor in Emery’s team selection. Having sat out the first leg, he was controversially recalled to the squad by Emery for the second leg. This decision ended up being one of the most impactful on-resulting decisions of the entire game.
At the same time, Emery has been uncharacteristically candid about the pressure he felt building up over his lineup decisions in decisive games. Reflecting on the 2017 Barcelona match, he remarked on his dilemma regarding Silva’s inclusion: “I wanted the team to defend higher. Thiago Silva is a super player but I wanted him to defend higher and I did not succeed in convincing him to accept that.”
Emery’s past continues to chase him as he readies for this season’s knock-out round tie with PSG. To that, he conceded that VAR did not exist for the pivotal moments of 2017. Just that one piece of technology might have turned the tide in the match. “We were eliminated because VAR did not exist yet,” he lamented. He pointed out that refereeing decisions hindered his team’s chances: “We had chances to make it 3-2 and then the refereeing decisions, I do not know if they were right or not, but for sure they damaged us.”
Aston Villa look ahead to a Champions League shootout with PSG. Each team comes into this game with their own storylines and pressures. Neymar has voiced optimism for his side, stating, “We have the team. We can make history. The energy at this match up will be incredible! Both managers are looking to write exciting new chapters in their careers.
Luis Enrique shared his thoughts on facing old rivals like Emery again: “We had lost everything in Paris. This wonderful sport is unique. It always gives you the chance for revenge.” That sentiment rings particularly true as both managers look to separate themselves from the last three years’ worth of heartache.
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