Dembele reveals PSG believed the tie was settled before a tense moment against Aston Villa.

Ousmane Dembele of Paris Saint-Germain stressed the need for his team to remain vigilant in high-pressure matches following a tense Champions League quarter-final clash against Aston Villa on Tuesday. He urged his teammates to avoid repeating their mistakes as they prepare for the semi-finals.

“We need to set high standards for ourselves, especially in matches like these. We made things harder than they needed to be, although Aston Villa did apply significant pressure,” Dembele remarked to French broadcaster Canal Plus after PSG fell 3-2 on the night but advanced 5-4 on aggregate.

“They have talented players, but we certainly made it tougher for ourselves, particularly in the second half when we lost our rhythm completely.”

The French champions arrived in England with a 3-1 advantage from the first leg in Paris and looked to have secured their progression when they took a 2-0 lead within the first thirty minutes.

Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes found the net for the visitors at Villa Park, but a fortunate deflection off a Youri Tielemans shot gave the hosts a lifeline just before the break.

In the second half, John McGinn and Ezri Konsa scored within three minutes, forcing PSG to cling on to their slim lead at times.

“We underestimated the situation,” Dembele acknowledged.

“At 2-1, we thought we had done enough and that the tie was over. However, that’s what the Champions League is about.

“You can face teams who, especially at home and with an enthusiastic crowd behind them, can turn the game in their favour. We need to hold ourselves to a higher standard in the semi-finals.”

Having made it to their second consecutive semi-final, PSG will meet the winner of the quarter-final between Arsenal and Real Madrid.

The two clubs face off in Spain on Wednesday, with Arsenal leading 3-0 following their first-leg encounter in London.

Arsenal previously defeated PSG 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium during the group stage in October.

“This experience will be invaluable, particularly in teaching us not to ease off and to maintain our focus throughout both matches,” the French star stated.

“While we’re pleased to have progressed, we have to refocus because winning this trophy requires a very high level of commitment.”

Despite the narrow escape, Dembele shared that there was “plenty of joy in the dressing room” after the game, as PSG remains on track to secure their first Champions League title in history.

“For Paris Saint-Germain, reaching the semi-finals is a positive step for both the club and the entire (French) league, and we’ll strive to do our utmost to reach the final,” he concluded.