10/05 - 20:00
Aston Villa skipper John McGinn has challenged his side to "write our names in the history books" by bagging a trophy this season.
The West Midlanders take on AZ Alkmaar on Thursday in the Europa Conference League knowing that victory will put them within touching distance of the knockout phase.
Villa won their last bit of silverware back in 1996 when they lifted the League Cup, and McGinn is focused on ending a 27-year wait for a trophy.
"Hopefully at the end of the season we can be proud of something we've done," said McGinn.
"We have three opportunities [Premier League, FA Cup and Europa Conference League] to break that spell of Aston Villa teams not having any silverware.
"We are embracing the Conference League. We know we are one of the biggest teams in the competition but that doesn't mean we can just turn up."
Unai Emery's side will be looking to bounce back from a 2-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest last weekend, a loss that brought to an end a six-match unbeaten run.
Villa will be without Emiliano Buendia and Tyrone Mings, who are both sidelined with knee injuries, and Jacob Ramsey and Jhon Duran are also on the treatment table at the moment.
Full-back Matty Cash should be fit to start against Alkmaar, however, having reportedly recovered from the shoulder injury that saw him substituted in Sunday's defeat to Forest.
2-1 | ||
Diego Carlos 61' Ollie Watkins 81' | Vangelis Pavlidis 52' |
