Prince William has said bringing his son George to Aston Villa’s Champions League quarter-final match in Paris was a “big deal” – before seeing their side lose 3-1 in the first leg of the tie.
Speaking to pundits Ally McCoist and Rio Ferdinand ahead of Villa’s match against Paris Saint-Germain, William said he was “pretty terrified” and “nervous”.
He said he was “wearing all my lucky clothes”, before being pictured punching the air and hugging his 11-year-old son as he celebrated Morgan Rogers giving Villa a first-half lead.
The Premier League club, however, ended up losing to PSG as the two teams faced off in Parc des Princes. William said he had predicted a 2-1 victory for Villa.
Asked by former England defender Ferdinand if he was on a “lads tour” to the match with friends, William replied: “Well, I’ve got my son here as well, so I’m on best behaviour as well.
“But I thought: You know what, it’s been 43 years since anything like this has happened in my generation as a Villa fan, and I want George to experience a night out away from home in a big European competition.
“I hope it’s not 43 years until the next one happens, but I think those memories are really important to create and bringing him along tonight is a big deal for me.”
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The TNT Sports pundits went on to ask William if he would make his children, who besides George include Charlotte, nine, and Louis, aged six, support Villa.
“I’m generally very open to whoever they support, but obviously I’m a bit biased,” the prince said.
“But also they come to games with Villa. They’re going to probably support Villa, but I’ve left the other two at home, probably watching tonight, so we’ll wait and see who they support,” he added.
The royal hugged some of Villa’s players, including Marco Asensio and England international Marcus Rashford as they came out of the dressing room.
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After William discussed Villa’s tactics and the “intensity” of PSG’s press, former Manchester United defender Ferdinand joked: “Do not go for a punditry job, please, because I could be out of the game.
“The way he just dissected that there, I’m going to nick that for later on.”
