Aston Villa’s disappointing performance against Paris Saint-Germain was reflected in some critical ratings by French newspaper L’Equipe.
A 3-1 defeat in their Champions League quarter-final first leg has made progression to the last four an unlikely prospect this season.
Morgan Rogers put Villa ahead against the run of play only for Desire Doue to equalise moments later with an excellent curling finish.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored an equally impressive goal to put PSG ahead before Nuno Mendes sealed the match in stoppage-time.
The performance backed up the popular opinion of Luis Enrique’s side being able to reach the final and potentially win the trophy.
L’Equipe celebrated from goalscorers Doue and Kvaratskhelia with respective 8/10 and 7/10 ratings.
Unfortunately for Villa though, most of their players didn’t fare as well and two of them were even given brutal ratings of 3/10.
Matty Cash and Jacob Ramsey were both handed the lowest scores out of the two teams.
L’Equipe say the former was targeted as Villa’s ‘weak point in defence’ while the latter ‘struggled to exist offensively’.
Head coach Unai Emery was also marked at 3/10, with the newspaper saying ‘his team refused to play and was understandably punished’.
However, Villa legend and talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor defended his former club despite their shortcomings in Paris.
He told talkSPORT Breakfast: “I just think all round, Aston Villa players must be proud of themselves.
“You’re playing against the best team in the world, teams will go to that stadium and get beat six, seven [nil].
“For Aston Villa, to keep it down to 3-1, you’re in the tie on Tuesday, and anything can happen.”
Villa exceeded expectations by finishing eighth in the league phase ahead of European giants including Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
It sent them straight into the last 16 where they beat Club Brugge 6-1 on aggregate, but PSG may have come as a step too far.
The second leg will be played at Villa Park on Tuesday, with the visitors likely to be full of confidence in reaching the semi-finals.
However, French football expert Julien Laurens doesn’t believe the tie is over just yet despite PSG scoring a crucial third on Wednesday.
“I don’t think it’s sealed it,” he said on talkSPORT Breakfast.
“Gabby’s right, anything can happen at Villa Park, they score early, the atmosphere, everything.
“But this PSG team have scored pretty much everywhere this season, especially since things clicked and they became much better.
“So, I think they will have chances over there too, and it will be maybe who’s the most efficient in the two boxes.
“It’s obvious to say, but it’s the truth. But this PSG team has character though, as we saw away at Liverpool for example, when they went there.
“So, I think they will go to Villa Park to play their own game like last night.”
