Somali denied World Cup ‘proud’ to referee PSG vs Villa in UEFA Super Cup

Paris Saint-Germain will face Aston Villa in the Uefa Super Cup on Wednesday, with PSG boss Luis Enrique cautioning that the match may not be of high quality. Last season, PSG won the trophy for the first time after defeating Tottenham Hotspur on penalties, following a successful campaign culminating in a Champions League victory.

This year, however, preparations for the Super Cup have been hampered by the World Cup, with 15 of PSG's players participating in the tournament. Notable absences include Spain midfielder Fabian Ruiz, who returned as a world champion, and five French internationals who played in the semi-finals of the European Championship. Despite their limited preparation, PSG's players will compete in the match.

Enrique also highlighted the additional challenge of defending the French Super Cup against Lens on Sunday, emphasizing that his primary focus is ensuring his team's peak condition at the end of the season. The French champions have faced broader football controversies, but Enrique refrained from commenting on the ongoing dispute between Fifa and Uefa.

Villa's appearance in Salzburg marks their continued resurgence under manager Unai Emery, who guided the team to their first major silverware in 30 years by winning the Europa League in May. Villa's victory over Freiburg sealed a record-extending fifth Europa League title for Emery, making it their first continental success since their European Cup triumph against Bayern Munich in 1982 and their Super Cup win over Barcelona in 2022.

However, the squad that achieved this success has undergone significant changes, with players such as Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers, Jadon Sancho, Douglas Luiz, Lucas Digne, Amadou Onana, Johan Manzambi, Ezri Konsa, Ollie Watkins, and Emiliano Martinez no longer part of the current lineup. Despite these changes, Villa remain confident, with Emery stating that they will start with the available players and aim to secure a positive result, given their current circumstances.