Unai Emery lavished praise upon Aston Villa youngsters Brian Madjo and George Hemmings after they impressed in Wednesday’s 2-1 Super Cup defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
Desire Doue’s 61st-minute strike proved decisive as the Champions League holders beat last season’s Europa League winners in Salzburg, though Villa gave a good account of themselves.
Even without Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa and Emiliano Martinez – who were granted additional leave after going deep at the World Cup – Villa spent long periods on top, having 15 shots to PSG’s 12 and winning the expected goals battle by 2.13 xG to 1.03.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had put PSG in front in the 20th minute, but 17-year-old striker Madjo, who Villa signed in January but were only able to register last month after an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, equalised in the 45th minute.
At 17 years and 212 days old, Madjo became the youngest-ever player to score in the Super Cup, overtaking Patrick Kluivert in 1996 (19 years, 220 days).
He is also the youngest player to score for Villa in any competition since Louie Barry against Liverpool in the FA Cup in January 2021 (17 years, 201 days).
Hemmings could have joined Madjo on the scoresheet when he had an effort repelled by Matvey Safonov at 2-1, and the 19-year-old also won possession more often than any other Villa player (six). Hemmings’ 14 passes in the final third were also the second-most for Villa, after Emiliano Buendia’s 16.
Speaking to TNT Sports afterwards, Emery said of the young duo: “These experiences and having days like today are very important.
“They showed how they are learning, after their hard work. This is the way.
“We decided before the game how we wanted to play this game. We have worked with the players in these positions.”
17y 212d – Brian Madjo (17y 212d) is the youngest player to score in the UEFA Super Cup, overtaking Patrick Kluivert in 1996 (19y 220d).
Persistence. pic.twitter.com/9t2JTSmkMk
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 12, 2026
Villa now face Borussia Monchengladbach in their final pre-season friendly on Saturday, with their Premier League campaign beginning against Brighton eight days later.
And though they will not be involved this weekend, Emery expects Villa’s last remaining World Cup stars to be back in training in the coming days.
“They are joining us after this match; we have our last friendly on Saturday. They are not going to be there, but they will start training with us now,” Emery said.
“We wanted to give them a four-week holiday because the season was very demanding. We think it’s better to work with players that are fit.
“Overall, we can feel proud of everything we’ve done. Some changes will be needed, but we are confident.
“With a loss, you can never feel happy but how we competed, how the players responded on the field for 90 minutes…
“And with our chances to score, we must feel really very proud of what we have done today.”
