Neymar called it one of the most important goals in the history of Barcelona. Sergi Roberto could not sleep after scoring it. The image of invader Lionel Messi was everywhere. Many regard it as the return of the Champions League of the Century.
For Unai Emery, ReturnBarcelona’s 6-1 win over his Paris Saint-Germain team in 2017, overturning a four-goal deficit from the first match in France, represents something quite different. It was a stunning loss that threatened to determine it.
Emery had gained cheers in Valencia and a European trophy in Sevilla but PSG was his chance of making memories in the Champions League – and that was not the kind that Qatar owners had in mind. They even lost their internal title to Monaco.
This returned at least under Emery next year as he instructed PSG to an inner fourfold, but the strict effects of that night in Barcelona resonated, however. They formed his team’s choice in losing to Real Madrid in 2018 and even the trajectory of his career.
Eight years later, Emery faces not only his former club for the first time since his appearance, but also Luis Enrique, now PSG coach himself. The man who declared famously that “if they can score four, we can score six” and was somewhat significantly proven.
Is Emery on it? He has managed enough to calm down for a reunion. However, another Europa League victory with Villarreal. Taking Aston Villa at a club level has not seen it in over 40 years. But in our first interview after taking over in Villa, it It was he who brought this.
“I won the Europa League four times,” he told Heavenly. “This is a lot of experience and a lot of competitive moments. And I also had some losses, like PSG when we lost against Barcelona, ​​for example, 6-1. And this experience helped me improve.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Unai Emery shares his thoughts on Marco Asensio’s rapid impact on Aston Villa
This was not the main emotion at the time. Neymar had previously been hinted at Barcelona’s faith. “We have the team. We can make history.” After that, Emery got a less romantic look. “We were eliminated because the VAR did not exist yet,” he complained.
It was a curious evening. Barcelona had shown their sensitivity to Parc des Princes but an embedded PSG did not decide to try them again at the Camp Nou, judging the possibility of a comeback by sitting back and accepting two goals in the first half.
Barcelona’s Neymar celebrates a goal while PSG would be under pressure at the Nou camp
Messi made it three from the penalty spot early in the second, but Edinson Cavani’s goal silenced the crowd and looked for everyone, but ended Barça’s hopes, the goal rule which means they needed three others. They still needed those three goals going to the 88th minute.
It was in that intervention that PSG felt robbed. Javier Mascherano withdrew to Angel Di Maria as he was preparing to shoot. The ball withdrew. There was no penalty. “It is clear that it was a foul,” Mascherano said afterwards. “I won’t lie about that.”
Emery was critical for officials. “We had the chance to do it 3-2 and then the judges’ decisions, I don’t know if they were right or not, but they probably harmed us.” It was not as harmful as what came next. “Then, in the last minutes, we lost everything.”
Sergi Roberto from Barcelona celebrates after scoring his famous goal against PSG
What happened in those closing minutes is the item of legend. Neymar took place on the central scene, scoring two and placing the last in the fifth minute of the stop time. Messi still stole the front coverings. This is said to have played its role in Neymar’s conviction to continue.
Lucas Digne, now from Villa, observed from the Barcelona bench, but Emery felt like a passer -by also in the other funnel. The perception was that when the time came for PSG to show that they were ready to defeat Europe’s elite, his team was extinguished by the challenge.
“At that time of play, I saw that an important player for us, who had had problems during the week, was hidden himself,” Emery said, secretly. “Maybe I should have changed it. Those little things are what can see a game away from you.”
Unai Emery reacts at the end of PSG Champions League loss to Barcelona
He did not name the player at the time, though some later concluded that Emery had regretted his decision to remember Thiago Silva, the great defender whose ability had been in doubt. He had lost his first leg. The temptation was to stick with the four rear.
Emery, apparently shaken by the notion that the Brazilian experience would be needed in the Camp Nou boiler, brought it back. One coach pointed out for his analytical approach, praised the psychological intangibles on his tactical instincts.
Talking three years later, long after his departure from Paris, and strangely leaving Silva on his side in Real Madrid, Emery discussed his dilemma over the defender. “I wanted the team to be protected above,” he said.
“Thiago Silva is a super player, but I wanted him to defend above and I failed to convince him to accept him. I wanted him to leave his comfort zone so that the overall pressure our team was coming to the opposition could be more effective.
“I’ve worked with her to accept her, but I didn’t succeed. This feature in Thiago Silva’s game was reverber to the rest of the team which, under pressure, had a natural tendency to pull out. At Camp Nou, I gave the instructions to move above. But it was not heard.”
Unai Emery looks frustrated as Luis Enrique watches while confronting them in Barcelona
Emery is not a man to forget the details and this is clearly what he has stayed with. Maybe you will always. These questions come again this week as he returns to Paris with villas in this quarter -finals of the Champions League, with PSG still following that elusive trophy.
Speaking to Kevin Trapp, the goalkeeper who allowed in six goals that night, he said, “I always try to convince all that game it doesn’t matter to me anymore.” But it helps that Trapp returned to Barcelona with Eintracht Frankfurt and overthrew them from Europe.
Such is football. There is always another game. A perceptual point, and perhaps now prophetically, made by Luis Enrique that night in 2017. “We had lost everything in Paris. But this wonderful sport is unique. It always gives you the opportunity to revenge.”
Maybe this is Emery’s turn.
