EXCLUSIVE | Tim Sherwood: ‘PSG are the team to beat in Champions League.’ | OneFootball

The former Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood sat down with Get French Football News to discuss Paris Saint-Germain’s victory over Liverpool in the Champions League and what we should expect from their upcoming clash with Villa.

What were your thoughts on PSG eliminating Liverpool? Were you surprised?

No, I wasn’t surprised. What I was surprised with was the level of performance from PSG over the two legs. The first leg was a one-sided affair in my opinion. I thought they should have won comfortably. Alisson had the game of his life. I was then really impressed with how PSG handled the atmosphere at Anfield.

I know what it’s like playing under the lights at Anfield. It’s an intimidating atmosphere but they look like they took it in their stride. They were under pressure but they dug in and I think that’s a crucial part of this Luis Enrique side.

I’ve covered them in the past for the last three or four years when they had Messi, Mbappé, and Neymar. And I’ve always said this team will never win the Champions League because they carry passengers when they’re out of possession. They don’t do that anymore, they’re really exciting. They’ve got pace, they’ve got ability, and players who are willing to work hard and get the ball back. They get the ball back better than any team I’ve seen this season.

As soon as they lost possession, the attitude, the urgency, and the aggression to go and get that ball back. And then when they get it, they have the ability to play. I think they’re my favourites to go all the way.

Which players were you most impressed by?

Bradley Barcola, last season I thought he was a bit part player on the sides, but he was magnificent. João Neves in the midfield. They’ve just got real threats. I like the goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma as well. I think he comes under a lot of criticism but I think he knows what he wants. He makes mistakes but he goes 100% into everything. And as a manager, you know what you’re going to get, and the defenders will know that as well. I just think they’ve got a wonderful balance about them, without having the superstars. It’s a real team.

For me, their biggest asset is the manager. Luis Enrique is obviously more experienced than most managers out there in the Champions League, both as a player and a manager. He saw the backend of Mbappé. The other players have watched him manage those superstars and he’s just said to them “This is how we’re going to do it now boys because it wasn’t working before. For us to go that extra yard.”

They’re going to win domestically of course they are. That’s what they do whoever manages them. But to get over the line in the Champions League, you need something different and this is what they need, and he’s shown them it and they’re obviously a well-coached side. Luis Enrique deserves all the credit. It’s just absolutely fantastic what he’s done. There’s no galacticos in there anymore. For me, they are the team to beat in the Champions League.

What should we expect from Aston Villa across the two legs?

Well, Villa will be good. Unai Emery is one of the best managers in European football. Over a two-legged tie, he’ll navigate it very well. He’s done it before in the Europa League many times [record four-time winner of the competition]. He’s managing against his old side as well. He will have a plan. He’s one of those managers that does change things, during a game as well, when he sees it’s not working. His players are very talented and he’s got injured players who are coming back. Pau Torres is going to be huge for them at centre-back. And their window in January has been incredible in the forward areas.

So they’re not going to be easy [for PSG]. It won’t be easy for either side but I would say if you ask me to put my neck on the line, I’d say PSG just might have a little too much because of the way they get the ball back. You have to be very very good in possession and Aston Villa will need to be good with the ball under a huge amount of pressure.

Do you think that PSG could underestimate Villa?

I don’t think so. Obviously, there’s a lot of analysis that goes around these days. Every player will know [about Villa] they’ll watch Premier League football and I think they’ll know that there is a real amount of quality in there.

Villa are a very good team. They play a different style to PSG. They’re a little bit more pragmatic. They’ll let PSG come onto them. And they will try and counterattack. They’ve got very exciting players and an astute manager. I don’t see this being a one-sided affair and over in the first leg. I think it will go right to the wire and it’ll be nail-biting right until the end. I just think the quality that PSG and the way they can get the ball back might just pay dividends for PSG.

Can you see any weaknesses from PSG that Villa could exploit?

Not really, no. Years ago I would have said that out of possession they’re not very good. And they defend with eight players but now they don’t. Now they all defend and they all attack and they come up together and they go back together. Everyone knows each other’s jobs which is a good thing and the team spirit they have looks like they have a real togetherness which is crucial to win any trophy, especially at the elite level like the Champions League. So no, there’s not a glaringly obvious one there. I don’t think there is a weakness and I think that’s a sign of a very very good side.

But if you ask me about Aston Villa, I don’t think there’s a weakness there either. They have possibly one of the best goalkeepers in the world in Emiliano Martinez. They’ve had injuries to their centre-backs but they’re back to fitness now. And we’ve seen what they’ve done in the transfer window, and Emery’s got loads of options going forward, especially from the wide areas: Ollie Watkins scores goals and Morgan Rogers is absolutely amazing. I’ve thought Youri Tielemans has been the best player for Villa this season. He’s been outstanding in that six position. So it’s going to be a very good game, and I think it’ll go to the wire.

On one of those signings, what are your thoughts on Marcus Rashford’s loan to Villa?

I was pleased that he went there because it was looking like he was on his way to Saudi Arabia. I was hoping for his sake that he would stay in the Premier League and prove Manchester United wrong. And he’s done that in a small way. I don’t think he’s been extraordinary, but he’s showing us glimmers and that he’s on the right path. We know what he can produce. We’ve all seen it in the past. He needs to do it on a consistent basis and if anyone’s going to get that out of him it will be Emery. But it will be almost nigh on impossible for Villa to take him next season, with his current wages. I think it’s been a brave decision for him to go to Villa and at the moment you have to say it’s worked out pretty well for him and the club.

Where do you think he could end up as PSG have always been linked with a move for him?

It’s all about who could afford him. He could go to Villa but his wages would have to be subsided hugely by Manchester United. If they were willing to do that then great. There are obviously Saudi Arabian clubs that would be able to afford his wages but I think he’s still got a lot to offer the top leagues around the world. And I want to see him in the Premier League. He’s entertained us in the past and I think he’s capable of doing it again. And I quite like those players who take a dip and we don’t see for a few years and then all of a sudden they come back strong again. And it just shows that you can turn it around. It would be great for him to go to Villa permanently. I don’t there’s a better club out there. I just would put a question mark on whether they can afford him or not.

Tim Sherwood was speaking exclusively to GFFN on behalf of Norsk Poker.

GFFN | Nick Hartland