Aston Villa targeting top-eight finish in 'surreal' Champions League campaign - McGinn
Aston Villa's captain, John McGinn, celebrated his team's remarkable return to the Champions League following a thrilling 3-2 victory against RB Leipzig on Tuesday, positioning them for a potential top-eight finish.
With this win, Villa ascended to third place in the standings, marking their first campaign at the pinnacle of European football in 41 years.
"It feels somewhat surreal," McGinn remarked during an interview with Amazon Prime after the match.
He expressed uncertainty regarding how far Villa might progress in this season's Champions League, stating, "This is our first season back in the Champions League for quite some time, so we will approach each match individually."
"Our current objective is to secure a top-eight finish, which would be fantastic, and we hope to achieve that."
McGinn initiated the scoring just three minutes into the match, as Villa took the lead on two occasions, only for Leipzig to respond each time.
Experienced midfielder Ross Barkley, who came off the bench, netted the decisive goal just two minutes later, marking his first Champions League goal with a long-range shot that took a deflection.
"That’s the responsibility of the players on the bench," Barkley commented to Amazon Prime.
"I’m pleased to have come on and scored the winning goal."
"Every goal counts, doesn’t it?" Barkley added regarding his deflected strike.
In the revised Champions League format, the teams finishing in the top eight secure direct qualification, while those ranked from nine to 24 must compete in an additional knockout round.
Aston Villa's manager, Unai Emery, expressed to the media that his team's performances in European competitions have surpassed their initial expectations prior to the tournament.
"Our current objective is now set higher than it was at the outset of this competition," stated the four-time Europa League champion.
"Having reached the top 24, and potentially the top 16 today, we now have an opportunity to aim for the top eight. Today's match was crucial in taking another step forward and getting closer to that top eight. We are regaining our confidence.
"It is essential for us to enjoy this journey together."
SportsLigue