RUMMA OF VILLA DEMISE

THEY know a thing or two about European heroes at Villa Park and for a gloriously chaotic short spell of time on a cold April night, this generation of players took their place among them.

- ANDY DUNN

Yes, they are out. And yes, over two legs, they were beaten by a side that was marginally more accomplished.

But what tells you everything about a Villa team that, on aggregate, trailed by FOUR goals after half an hour of this second leg, is that for all their brilliance, the hero for Paris St-Germain was a big goalkeeper.

Gianluigi Donnarumma conceded three but made a string of world-class stops to deny Villa the most remarkable of comebacks.

And had it been completed, it really would have been astonishing.

Because for all their spirit and class there was still a fair bit to fault about Villa's two performances against Luis Enrique's side, Emi Martinez not being able to put his gloves where his mouth is being one of them.

And boss Unai Emery cannot be spared scrutiny, having decided not to start with Ollie Watkins.