Aston Villa Captain John McGinn Aspires To Make History After Champions League Quarter-Final Success

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Aston Villa's captain, John McGinn, expressed the team's eagerness to make history after advancing to the Champions League quarter-finals. Villa triumphed over Club Brugge with a 6-1 aggregate score, securing a 3-0 victory at Villa Park in the second leg. Substitute Marco Asensio scored twice, and Ian Maatsen added his first goal for the club. This marked Villa's seventh win in the competition this season.

Villa's success has made them the ninth English team to reach this stage of the Champions League, setting a record for most teams from one nation. Next, they face Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), who eliminated Liverpool on penalties. McGinn shared his excitement about upcoming challenges: "It doesn't get much harder than PSG over two legs." He acknowledged their hard work and looked forward to future matches.

Asensio's impact was immediate when he came off the bench at halftime, scoring within five minutes. Since joining Aston Villa on loan from PSG in January, Asensio has netted seven goals in eight games. Only Ousmane Dembele has scored more across Europe's top leagues since Asensio's debut in February. Asensio became just the fourth substitute to score twice for an English club in a Champions League knockout match.

McGinn reflected on their journey: "It's mad. A lot of years of hard work." Despite a challenging first half against Club Brugge, he praised Asensio's contribution and emphasised the importance of staying focused on upcoming games before facing PSG. McGinn also mentioned their FA Cup aspirations and the desire to continue delivering memorable experiences for fans.

Asensio expressed his joy after the match: "Very happy for the victory. I'm very happy for the team and the fans." He praised the atmosphere at Villa Park and looked forward to future objectives. Asensio highlighted his comfort with teammates and adaptation to new players as key factors in their success.

Villa aims to maintain momentum as they prepare for crucial fixtures ahead. The team is determined to create lasting memories for their supporters and continue their impressive run in both domestic and European competitions. With a break before facing PSG, they have time to strategise and focus on achieving their goals this season.