Fans think Unai Emery made major mistake against PSG but they're quickly proven wrong

Fans think Unai Emery made one key mistake ahead of Aston Villa's Champions League quarter-final second leg - that then turned into a masterstroke soon after.

Villa went 2-0 down inside 30 minutes through goals from PSG full-backs Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes.

Both goals came from counter attacks and exposed defensive frailties from the hosts, with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez making an error for the first goal before Villa were caught with too many players up the pitch for the second.

But Villa fans think Emery's main selection error came in the attacking third.

The hosts did pull a goal back through Youri Tielemans to make it 5-2 on aggregate before half-time.

There were question marks raised over why top scorer Ollie Watkins, nor star attacking midfielder Marco Asensio were picked in the starting line-up.

Watkins was suffering from a knee injury around the international break but has returned to full fitness, and said on Monday that he was 'not happy' with his recent regular cameos from the bench.

Emery instead picked the in-form Marcus Rashford up front, but fans thought that space could have at least been made for the pair of them and fellow attacker Morgan Rogers.

One fan wrote: "I don't see why Emery is making Rashford and Watkins rotate up front, instead of starting both together. Obvious attack would surely be Rashford, Asensio, Rogers behind Watkins."

A second said: "Ollie Watkins not starting in Villa's biggest game of the season is mental."

A third asked: "Why's Unai Emery benching Marco Asensio in back-to-back games?"

A fourth wrote: "He has to get Asensio and Watkins on now."

EZRI KONSA GRABS VILLA'S THIRD 😱

The hosts are now just one goal from levelling the tie#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/SmKyeV8z72

— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) April 15, 2025

As it turned out, Villa fired into action in the second half, with John McGinn equalising on the night for the home side.

Ezri Konsa then made it 3-1 just minutes later via an incredible Rashford run and assist.

With Watkins and Asensio still to come off the bench, Emery may just have made one of the best calls of the season despite initial complaints.