BIRMINGHAM, England — Under the Paris floodlights, Marcus Rashford was electric. He didn’t score, but for a full 75 minutes on Tuesday night, he looked like the man who might drag Aston Villa to a stunning Champions League comeback.
Down 2–0 by the half-hour mark and trailing 5–1 on aggregate, Villa seemed out of it. Then, Rashford sparked to life.
The 27-year-old tore into the Paris Saint-Germain defence, helping turn the match on its head. Villa fought back to lead 3–2 on the night. One more goal and they would have levelled the tie.
But just as Villa pressed, Rashford was taken off.
Manager Unai Emery replaced him with Ollie Watkins in the 76th minute—a decision that baffled many.
“Marcus Rashford is on fire tonight,” said former Villa and Manchester United striker Dion Dublin, speaking live on BBC Radio 5 Live. “You don’t want to take him off.”
The energy shifted. Villa’s tempo slowed. PSG held on.
A performance to remember
Rashford’s return to form has been one of the stories of Villa’s season. On loan from Manchester United, where his future remains unclear, he has started to look like the player who once terrified top defenders across Europe.
“He played a fantastic match,” Emery said post-match. “We are very happy. If he is happy, we are happy.”
Rashford’s numbers told the story. He had more touches in the opposition box than anyone else -12 in total. He created four chances and sent in nine crosses, the most on the pitch. His assist for Villa’s third goal was a moment of magic: a nutmeg, a sharp cut inside, then a perfect pass for Ezri Konsa to score.
“He was involved in everything good,” said Stephen Warnock, a former Villa full-back. “For me, he was the man of the match.”
Former England striker Daniel Sturridge, speaking on Amazon Prime, praised the forward’s resilience.
“People said he wasn’t the same player anymore. But tonight, he reminded everyone what he’s capable of,” said Sturridge. “He’s showing who he is again.”
A manager under the spotlight
Emery has been widely praised since taking charge of Villa in October 2022, leading the club from the brink of relegation to Europe’s biggest stage. But his substitution of Rashford invited criticism.
“I don’t know what Unai Emery saw,” said Warnock. “It felt like the tempo dropped the moment Rashford went off. You’re chasing a goal—why take off your most dangerous player?”
Still, Emery defended the decision, pointing to fatigue and the need for fresh legs. “We wanted to keep pressing,” he said. “It’s always a balance.”
Rashford’s next move?
Villa has an option to sign Rashford permanently for £40 million. No final decision has been made, but Emery suggested it depends on how the final weeks of the season unfold.
“It depends on the circumstances for now and the next weeks,” he said.
For Rashford, the loan has breathed new life into his career. And if performances like Tuesday’s continue, Villa may find it hard to say no.
And what about Watkins?
Watkins, who replaced Rashford, has also had a complicated season. Despite scoring 14 Premier League goals, he’s started just one of Villa’s last six matches. After scoring off the bench against Southampton last weekend, he made his frustration clear.
“For me, I’m not happy to sit on the bench,” Watkins said. “It’s disappointing every game that I’m on the bench, but it’s the manager’s decision.”
With the World Cup on the horizon next year, Watkins needs regular football. Whether that’s at Villa Park remains to be seen.
A tale of two strikers
Rashford shone, but Villa fell short. Emery’s gamble didn’t pay off, and questions remain over both his substitutions and what comes next for his front line.
For now, Rashford’s resurgence is the headline. His fire lit up Paris. The only thing missing was a fourth goal—and maybe a few more minutes.
