Goal hero expresses Champions League regret after Aston Villa's heroic exit
Youri Tielemans has promised Villa will “give everything” to qualify for next season’s Champions League after Tuesday’s heartbreaking exit to Paris Saint-Germain.
Villa came close to pulling off one of the greatest comebacks in the history of European football and though proud of the performance, the midfielder expressed regret at the failure of Unai Emery’s team to finish the job.
Trailing 5-1 on aggregate, Tielemans started the fightback before two goals in as many minutes from John McGinn and Ezri Konsa pulled the hosts back to within a goal.
But they were unable to find a leveller as visiting goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma produced a series of stunning saves.
Tielemans said: "We really believed that we could get another one and we had a few chances where we should have been more clinical to stay in the game.
"Unfortunately, we didn't score. That's football. We have to be more clinical in those situations.
“It's true that their goalkeeper made some really good saves and credit to them as well.”
Villa now face two huge Premier League matches against Newcastle and Manchester City in their battle for a top-five finish and Champions League return.
Tielemans continued: “You always want more and obviously after a night like this you want more, you want to be back next season. So we're going to give everything to do that.”
Marcus Rashford was twice denied by Donnarumma, before setting up Konsa for the goal which put Villa 3-2 up on the night.
The Italy international goalkeeper also prevented another Villa loan star, Marco Asensio, from scoring against his parent club and levelling the tie on aggregate.
Villa’s win on the night was their ninth in the last 10 matches and Tielemans admits the club’s January business has helped raise levels across the squad.
“We had many, many injuries at that time so we were a bit forced to add players into the squad. I think the recruitment has been really good, the players coming in have been showing their level, showing a good mentality.
"I think when you have new players coming in it raises the level and you can see on Tuesday night some of the quality that we had and obviously in other games that we've had as well.
"So now it's up to us to keep pushing and be back next season.”
