Alan Shearer has partly blamed Marcus Rashford for the first goal scored by Paris Saint-Germain in Aston Villa’s 3-1 victory at Villa Park on Tuesday. Despite a spirited fightback from Villa, they ultimately lost 5-4 on aggregate.
The Moment of Criticism
Shearer, speaking in commentary on Amazon Prime, pointed out that Rashford’s poor touch near the 18-yard box allowed PSG to regain possession. He described how Rashford attempted to cut in and bend the ball into the net, but the miscontrol gave Marquinhos a chance to intervene. From there, PSG broke quickly, exploiting Villa’s defensive vulnerability, especially down the right side.
Wayne Rooney’s Take on the First Goal
Wayne Rooney, former Manchester United striker, also weighed in on the incident. He acknowledged that Rashford had found himself in a good position but also noted that the poor touch led to Villa conceding the goal. Rooney also criticized Villa’s defensive response, with Kamara stepping out of position and Matty Cash failing to recover quickly enough.
Emery Reflects on Villa’s Performance
Despite the defeat, Aston Villa manager Unai Emery was upbeat about his team’s efforts. He highlighted the strong support from the fans at Villa Park and their resilience in fighting back after falling 2-0 behind. Emery expressed pride in his side’s performance, noting they were close to equalizing but ultimately fell short. He also set his sights on future challenges in the Premier League, facing teams like Newcastle and Manchester City.
Looking Ahead to Premier League Tests
Emery emphasized the importance of the ongoing process of building the team and improving standards. As Villa prepares for tough matches ahead, including against Newcastle and Manchester City, the focus is on responding to challenges and maintaining the high level of performance seen in the Champions League.
