Ousmane Dembele refused to accept his Player of the Match award after Paris Saint-Germain scraped past Aston Villa in the Champions League.
Despite being beaten 3-2 on the night by the Villains, PSG advanced into the semi-finals with a 5-4 aggregate victory, but were made to sweat after surviving a second-half onslaught at Villa Park.
Heading into the clash with a two-goal advantage after their 3-1 win at the Parc des Princes last week, goals from Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes saw the Parisians’ lead doubled early in the second leg.
But Villa fought back, with Youri Tielemans netting on the stroke of half-time, before John McGinn and Ezri Konsa scored to make it 3-2 in the match, and put them within a goal of levelling the tie.
Despite a nervy final half hour, Unai Emery‘s side came up just short in the end, with Gianluigi Donnarumma making a string of important saves to see PSG over the line.
Despite the Italian stopper’s fine display, it was his teammate Dembele who was given the official Player of the Match award.
But the French winger was less than impressed at receiving the accolade after his side advanced by the skin of their teeth.
Footage captured appears to show Dembele refusing to accept the award from an official, as he storms off the pitch at full-time.
Later on, he wore a face like thunder when he posed for pictures with the trophy.
And the 27-year-old made his thoughts on his side’s performance clear after the match, as he suggested PSG were guilty of complacency.
He told Canal+: “We thought we were too good. At 2-1, we thought we were already qualified and that it was over.
“That’s how the Champions League goes. You face teams whose supporters are white-hot and they can turn the game on its head.”
GettyDembele’s feelings were clear for all to see after his side narrowly made the Champions League semi-finals[/caption]
GettyThe Frenchman set up Nuno Mendes for PSG’s second goal against Villa[/caption]
Despite his frustrations, Dembele insisted the experience would help the Ligue 1 champions going forward, as they bid to win a first ever Champions League title.
He added: “We’ll have to be more demanding for the semi-finals.
“It’s a match that will serve us well because we now know that nothing is ever over.
“We’ve qualified, we’re happy about that and we’ll have to get back to work to get this trophy. We’ll try to do our best to reach the final.”
PSG will now face the winner of the tie between Arsenal and Real Madrid in the final four, with the Gunners taking a 3-0 lead into the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu tonight.
Dembele will fancy his team’s chances against either side, with PSG impressing in Europe this season, as well as boasting an unbeaten record in Ligue 1.
The ex-Barcelona forward has been a key part of this success, with 32 goals and 11 assists in 42 games in a fine individual campaign.
