HRH Prince William joins TNT Sports pundits in Paris to run the rule over Aston Villa v PSG in UEFA Champions League
Updated 10/04/2025 at 08:18 GMT+1
Ahead of Aston Villa's first leg with PSG, HRH Prince William joined Rio Ferdinand and Ally McCoist to discuss his beloved side, their manager Unai Emery and the tactical side of the game. The Prince of Wales witnessed Villa's 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich earlier this season in a repeat of their 1982 European Cup final victory and he hopes they are heading for similar glory this time around.
HRH Prince William joins Rio and Ally to preview PSG v Aston Villa
Video credit: TNT Sports
HRH Prince William joined the TNT Sports punditry team to preview Aston Villa's clash with Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League.
The Prince of Wales was in attendance earlier this season when Villa beat Bayern Munich 1-0 in a repeat of their 1982 European Cup final victory against the German side.
On Wednesday, he was at the Parc des Princes as his side looked to take a step closer to European glory once again.
His Royal Highness had time to join Ally McCoist and Rio Ferdinand ahead of kick-off to discuss Villa, Unai Emery and PSG's high-pressing system.
His feelings ahead of the clash
On how he was feeling ahead of Villa's quarter-final, HRH Prince William said: "I’m pretty terrified. It’s been a while coming, so it's a big game. 43 years since the last time this happened - a big European night for Villa so I’m nervous.
"I’m confident but I’m also excited by the whole prospect.
"I'm wearing all my lucky clothes and have done all my routines, so I'm hoping it's going to bring some luck tonight."
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Rogers strikes to spark delirium amongst Aston Villa fans – including HRH Prince William
Video credit: TNT Sports
The high press
Discussing what he expected from PSG on Wednesday, The Prince of Wales said: "So I think we all saw the Liverpool game, and PSG’s intensity. In the first leg, they were unbelievable.
"They gave a lot of pressure, they pressed very high. And so I think for Unai tonight, and the team, it’s about managing that press."
PSG's new approach
Discussing PSG’s new approach of targeting youngsters rather than superstars, HRH Prince William said: "I think not having [Kylian] Mbappe there, I think the PSG guys have talked about that quite a bit in the media around not having the superstars maybe makes it a bit more of a gel.
"Vitinha in the midfield, I've been really impressed by, bearing in mind he was at Wolves two, three years ago, and he could hardly get a game and now look at him."
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On Unai Emery
Giving his thoughts on Unai Emery, The Prince of Wales said: "First of all, I think I speak for most Villa fans saying we’re so thrilled and really lucky to have a manager of Unai’s quality.
"As a person, he is an absolute gentleman, a lovely guy.
"He's an absolute tactician. I try, when I get the odd chance to talk to him, and take some nuggets of information from him but he’s very guarded.
"I went up and watched training once. What Unai was doing, he was moving players on the pitch about a centimetre left and right. I thought, 'That's a man who cares about the little details.'"
Prince George on a Villa away day
On whether he was on a "lads tour" in Paris, HRH Prince William responded: "Well I've got my son here as well so I'm on best behaviour as well.
"But I thought, you know what, it's been 43 years since anything like this has happened in my generation as a Villa fan and I want George to experience a night out away from home in a big European competition.
"I hope it's not 43 years until the next time it happens but I think those memories are really important to create and bringing him along tonight is a big deal to me."
Rice's free-kick magic
On Declan Rice's pair of free-kicks against Real Madrid on Tuesday, The Prince of Wales said: "Unbelievable. I'm sure Declan will agree to this but I've never seen Declan take a free-kick like that in my life. But what a couple of amazing free-kicks.
"I'm really excited for seeing Declan, what he can do for the England team. I think if he can do that now, he's going to be the England set-piece taker and that's really exciting."
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Highlights: Rice magic as Arsenal stun Real Madrid on famous night
Video credit: TNT Sports
The prediction?
"I'm going to go 2-1 Villa," said HRH Prince William.
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Thoughts?