Late Nuno Mendes Strike Caps Dominant Display as Luis Enrique Warns Against Complacency
Paris Saint-Germain took a major step toward the Champions League semi-finals with a commanding 3-1 victory over Aston Villa in Wednesday’s quarter-final first leg, but manager Luis Enrique insists the job is far from finished.
The French giants dominated possession and chances but had to recover from an early scare when Morgan Rogers stunned the Parc des Princes with a shock opener for Villa. PSG responded swiftly, with goals from Desire Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia turning the game around before Nuno Mendes sealed the win in stoppage time with a well-deserved third.
“That late goal reflects what we did for the previous 90 minutes,” Luis Enrique said afterward. “We controlled the game, created chances, and in the end, we got the reward.”
Despite taking a two-goal lead into next week’s second leg at Villa Park, the PSG boss dismissed any notion of playing it safe. “We don’t know how to speculate—I’ve never done that with any team, especially not one of this quality,” he declared. “If we want to reach the semi-finals, we have to go there to win, to hurt them. There will be more space, and we’ll use it.”
Villa, who struggled to contain PSG’s rapid transitions, now face an uphill battle. Manager Unai Emery, however, refused to be disheartened.
“With or without the third goal, our task is the same—we have to win at home,” said Emery. “Villa Park is our fortress. We’ll be stronger, more aggressive, and create more than we did tonight. The result isn’t ideal, but there are still 90 minutes to play.”
PSG will travel to Birmingham as favorites, but Luis Enrique knows better than to underestimate Emery’s side. “It’s going to be intense, difficult—just like Anfield was,” he said, referencing their hard-fought win over Liverpool in the last round. “But one thing’s certain: we won’t be sitting back.”
The stage is set for a thrilling second leg, with Villa needing a historic comeback and PSG determined to finish the job in style.
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