Aston Villa were due to travel to Spotify Camp Nou on Tuesday for a Champions League matchday four game against Barcelona. Ahead of the fixture, Villa captain John McGinn said his side had players who could cause damage to Barcelona as well.
Villa had won three from three in the league phase before the Barcelona game and went into it after a 2-1 Premier League win over Manchester City. GOAL said Villa were second in the league phase table before the game, while Barcelona were eighth in the European standings, and said Villa aimed to extend their three-point lead over Barcelona in the Champions League standings.
McGinn on playing at Camp Nou
McGinn said: "I’m 32 years old but the trajectory of this club is allowing me to dream the same way I dreamed when I was nine, ten or eleven to play in front of the biggest crowds."
McGinn said: "This is a very historic stadium, but what the club is trying to do now is make this normal... and make Aston Villa compete with the best in England and the best in Europe."
McGinn also said: "Us, as professionals, we’ll only enjoy the experience if we have three points."
Villa's form before the game
GOAL said Aston Villa had conceded five goals in their last five outings before the Barcelona game.
"Villa 2.0" and the squad structure
McGinn described Aston Villa's current squad as "Villa 2.0".
He said: "They realise the structure that we’ve built during the four years that the manager’s been here gives players the best possible chance."
He said: "They have world-class players... Not only do they possess amazing ability, the thing that impresses me most about them is their humility to work for the team."
He said: "Our success over the past four years is built on the fact no one player is bigger than the others... We have our own players who can cause damage to Barcelona as well."
