After joining Aston Villa on loan from Manchester United on Sunday for the remainder of the season, striker Marcus Rashford is confident he can help the team have a strong Champions League run.
Although Rashford, who has 60 England caps, has had a difficult season at United and hasn’t featured since mid-December, he claims he is prepared to support Villa in a variety of competitions.
Currently ranked seventh in the Premier League, Unai Emery’s team has earned a spot in the Champions League last 16 and will visit Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup fourth round next weekend.
Rashford responded to a question concerning a return to Europe’s top club competition by saying, “Obviously, (it’s) the biggest competition for a club to be involved in.”For me, it will undoubtedly be a novel experience playing for Villa in the Champions League.
“It’s always going to be a great moment, but the aims remain the same, to try and do our best to win it,” he told Villa’s website.
“I’ve played a fair amount of games in the Champions League, so I feel like I’m experienced and know how to handle those types of situations.”
Rashford, 27, joined United when he was seven years old and has since scored 138 goals in 426 games, including over 30 in the Champions League.
He claimed that Villa’s style of play enticed him to join the Midlands team.
“I’ve had to choose somewhere where I feel my style of football is suited to, and can help them and help me rediscover and improve as a player,” Rashford said.
“Obviously it’s only short-term I’m here so I want to make the most of my time here and the only way to do that is by using my attributes and my skill set to help the team.
“I know I can hurt teams. I know when I’m playing at my best, I can decide football games.
“That’ll be my only ambition and only goal, to help the team win more games, more points and hopefully create history.”
