Aston Villa captain John McGinn celebrated his side's impressive return to the Champions League after a 3-2 victory at RB Leipzig put them in a strong position to secure a top-eight finish. The win moved Villa to third in the table, marking an incredible achievement for the club, which last competed at this level 41 years ago. McGinn expressed his disbelief at the team's success, calling it "surreal" and emphasizing the club’s cautious approach as they aim to finish in the top eight.
McGinn opened the scoring in the third minute, but Leipzig responded by equalizing twice. However, Villa regained the lead when veteran midfielder Ross Barkley, who had come off the bench, scored a deflected long-range shot to secure the win. Barkley, who marked his first Champions League goal with the match-winning strike, reflected on his contribution, saying he was happy to come off the bench and score, acknowledging that "all goals count."
Villa's manager, Unai Emery, also praised the team's performance, acknowledging that their progress in the competition had exceeded initial expectations. With the top eight teams qualifying directly for the knockout rounds, Emery outlined that their new target was higher than when they started the tournament, with the chance to finish in the top eight still very much in reach after their crucial win against Leipzig.
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