Unai Emery Marco Asensio Aston Villa
(Credit: Imago, Hasan Karim/Breaking Media)

‘Marco Asensio should be investigated by Aston Villa’ – fans explode

Jonathan Burnett
Jonathan Burnett

Aston Villa and PSG fans have come up with similar theories after Marco Asensio missed a “sitter” in their Champions League quarter-final clash.

PSG loaned Asensio to Villa Park in January and the Spaniard has adapted seamlessly to life in claret and blue, scoring eight goals in his first 14 matches for Unai Emery’s side and becoming a regular starter.

Asensio’s three Champions League goals against Club Brugge in the last 16 saw Villa book a quarter-final place alongside his parent club PSG, with UEFA rules allowing the 29-year-old to feature against them.

Former Villa scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Villa were putting plans in place to sign Asensio permanently back in February, with his goals helping to re-rail their push for a Champions League place.

With Marcus Rashford also in impressive form since his own temporary switch from Manchester United in January, Brown also told Football Insider that Rashford could join Asensio at Villa Park for the long-term.

Marco Asesnio during a warm-up for Paris Saint-Germain
Asensio had been out of favour in Paris before his loan move to Aston Villa

Marco Asensio miss costs Aston Villa v PSG

Villa’s second leg against Asensio’s parent club had already undergone several twists and turns by the time he was introducted in the 66th minute, replacing John McGinn after he’d equalised for the Villans.

McGinn’s goal came in between a first-half strike from Youri Tielemans and Ezra Konsa’s first-time finish barely two minutes afterwards, the latter teed up by a mazy run from Asensio’s fellow loanee Rashford.

ClubAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsGames Missed
PSG1692415
Aston Villa146811
Asensio has discovered a new lease of life in front of goal since moving to Villa Park
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However, not long before Rashford was substituted in a move which backfired on Emery, Asensio was played in behind by Pau Torres, yet with only Gianluigi Donnarumma to beat, his tame shot was saved.

Aston Villa and PSG fans in full agreement at Marco Asensio

While Villa fans almost unilaterally want to see Asensio stay put at the club beyond this season, several had their doubts over how and why he missed such a straightforward-looking chance on Tuesday.

Asensio playing against his parent club may have been seen as a novelty, but his saved effort – which would’ve levelled the tie at 5-5 on aggregate – led to accusations that he was “conflicted” about scoring.

Even PSG fans chimed in with their own theories on Asensio’s miss; some saying that he “remembered who pays his wages” and arguing Asensio “might as well go back to Paris” after their semi-final place was secured.

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