Youri Tielemans is prepared for a tough test as Aston Villa face Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final.
The Villans travel to the French capital for their last eight showdown at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night.
It promises to be a mouth-watering occasion in Europe’s elite club competition, as Unai Emery’s side, having progressed past Club Brugge, face a PSG outfit who saw off Liverpool in the round of 16.
“It’s a big occasion but we’re there for the game,” Tielemans told VillaTV.
“We just want to play our game, we want to obviously win the game because that’s what we’re there for.
“And we’re going to do everything to do that.”
Villa head into the eagerly-anticipated encounter on the back of an impressive seven-match winning sequence in all competitions.
The run has seen Villa move within two points of the top four and reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup in the process.
Tielemans added: “Confidence is there but we know we’ve got to be on our toes every time we’re on the pitch and we’ve got to focus.
“Every game is different, especially at this stage of the competition.
“PSG is a very big opponent, they’re in good form as well.
“We’re going to be facing a tough team.”
Tielemans is one of only two outfield players, alongside Morgan Rogers, to have started all 10 of the club’s Champions League matches this season.
The influential Belgium international midfielder has been in superb form for the Villans this term, insisting “I’m fit, I’m feeling good”.
And, having reached the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League in 2023/24, he feels Villa will have to draw upon all their European experience in Paris.
“Massively, last season we came into this stage in the Conference League and obviously this game is a lot bigger than what it was last year, but it’s just the same thing apart from the opponent,” he said.
“The stage of the competition is really good and we just want to make a name for ourselves and, like I said, try to win the game there, but it’s going to be very hard.”
You can watch Youri’s full interview below…
