Rio Ferdinand Faces Criticism for Commentary During PSG's Comeback Against Aston Villa

• by Arlen Fitzpatrick
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Rio Ferdinand’s Rough Night in the Studio

The spotlight wasn’t just on the pitch during Paris Saint-Germain’s comeback win over Aston Villa in their Champions League quarterfinal. Former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand faced a wave of criticism for his performance in the pundit chair on TNT Sports. The buzz started when Prince William, a known Villa supporter, joined the panel and laid out a detailed take on manager Unai Emery’s defensive setup. Ferdinand, hoping to lighten the mood, quipped, “Do not go for a punditry job because I could be out of the game!” But viewers at home found Ferdinand’s self-deprecation more awkward than funny—many even suggested maybe the Prince should consider the job for real.

Prince William wasn’t just a celebrity guest dropping platitudes. He spoke sharply about Villa’s need to weather PSG’s high press and look to spring counters. As Villa grabbed the lead in the 35th minute through Morgan Rogers, the tactics actually looked spot on—at least for a little while.

PSG’s Dominance Shifts the Mood

Once Villa went ahead, the real story unfolded. PSG quickly turned on the style, and the statistics made blunt reading for Villa fans. At halftime, the Parisians had rattled off 297 passes against Villa’s 97 and outshot their visitors 8-1. It felt like only a matter of time before the breakthrough came. Désiré Doué, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Nuno Mendes all found the net as PSG flipped the script with three second-half goals.

Ferdinand, providing analysis alongside Ally McCoist, became increasingly critical—especially of Villa’s right-back, *Nuno Mendes*. He suggested the defender was so overwhelmed that he “wouldn’t be far off asking to come off.” His remarks, intended to spotlight PSG’s relentless approach down the flanks, landed poorly online. Ferdinand did find positive moments, particularly when John McGinn’s rugged challenge managed to break up a threatening PSG move—a small flashpoint in a match Villa were otherwise chasing shadows.

Unai Emery, never one to dodge harsh truths, was quick to give PSG their due. “PSG are a top side, but Villa Park is our home,” Emery said, hinting at hope for the second leg. “Hopefully we can be stronger at our place.”

As for the post-match reaction, viewers weren’t shy about their feelings towards Ferdinand’s analysis. Some argued that Prince William’s breakdown sounded more informed than anything from the ex-defender, while a few half-jokingly asked TNT to hand the pundit’s seat to the royal for the next round. Football, always unpredictable—whether you’re on the pitch or behind a microphone.