Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique hailed his players as the “best squad in the world” after the French champions booked a place in the Uefa Champions League semi-finals for a second successive season, despite a 3-2 second-leg defeat to Aston Villa on Tuesday night.
The result saw PSG advance 5-4 on aggregate, with early goals from Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes proving vital. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma produced a standout performance to deny Villa from taking the game to extra time, prompting special praise from his manager.
“I think I have the best squad in the world, not only the goalkeeper,” said Luis Enrique. “Gigi is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. And I have to say that match, for us, allows us to grow up and compete even better.”
Having already wrapped up the Ligue 1 title, the Qatar-owned club now sets their sights on a maiden Champions League triumph. This marks PSG’s third appearance in the last four of the competition in five years, signalling the success of a recent policy shift away from superstar signings toward a more balanced, youthful team.
“We are really confident right now,” said Hakimi. “We are again in the semi-finals and we want to show PSG is a big team, a big club, and we want to fight for all the titles we can.”
Despite conceding twice in three minutes during a second-half resurgence from Villa, Luis Enrique remained calm.
“This is the Champions League and you have to accept that the opposition team has a lot of quality,” he said. “I think, over the two matches, we deserved to win.”
PSG will now face either Arsenal or Real Madrid in the semi-finals.
Barca bag place in last four
Elsewhere, Barcelona also secured a place in the last four, progressing past Borussia Dortmund on aggregate despite a 3-1 defeat in the second leg.
A dominant 4-0 first-leg win at the Olympic Stadium proved enough for Hansi Flick’s side, who reach the semi-finals for the first time since the 2018/19 season.
“We played two games and it's justified that we're through,” said Flick. “They made our lives very hard but what was important is we made it to the semi-finals.”
Serhou Guirassy scored a hat-trick for Dortmund in a spirited second-leg performance, but Barcelona's early advantage held firm. Midfielder Fermin Lopez, who played a key role in forcing an own goal from Ramy Bensebaini, said the experience would benefit the team moving forward.
“We’re now in the semi-finals and can draw a lot of strength from this game today because it was a big task,” said Lopez.
With a Copa del Rey final ahead and a four-point lead in La Liga, Barcelona remain on course for a potential treble under Flick.
“Now's the time to celebrate what we've done,” the German coach said. “Then we can get back to analysing what's ahead of us.”
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THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
