Aston Villa FC Logo
Aston Villa FC Logo
Barkley: It was a great performance
Ross Barkley relished being part of a strong team performance as Aston Villa demolished Fenerbahçe in the UEFA Champions League.
The midfielder scored twice and registered an assist in the 6-0 victory at Villa Park, bagging a first home win of the season in style.
It was the club’s biggest-ever European triumph, and Barkley was proud to play his part.
“It was a great performance overall by the team, and we needed this result,” he reflected.
“We’re still gelling, we’ve got loads of new players, we’re all getting on the same page on the training pitch, and today we worked well.
“We’ve got loads of top players in the squad, new additions, and it was nice play in the game today and chip in with a couple of goals to build some confidence within the team.”
Of the team’s 11th straight win at home in Europe, he added: “Maybe it surprises teams here, with the atmosphere. It’s intense.
“The fans get behind us if we win our duels, and that’s why John McGinn is so key for us: he wins duels, gets us going, he’s passionate and he lifts the fans and the team.
“We were fantastic today, and hopefully we can keep building on that.”
Villa are steadily building into the 2026/27 campaign and have now lost only one of their last seven games.
The summer signings are settling in well as Unai Emery’s team discovers its identity, and Barkley is excited for what’s to come.
“As the weeks go by, everyone is growing, but it’s led by the manager. He’s one of the best managers in the world, and with time everyone learns, everyone improves, and it’s exciting,” he said.
“Once you grasp it, the game becomes easy for you if you’re on it on game day. The game comes together.
Barkley added: “I love being a part of the club.
“It’s a great club, a great team, it’s fantastic. My role is to be ready when I come off the bench or when I start.
“When I come on the pitch I’ve got to do what I can do. If I don’t perform at my best, the next game I’ve got to come through and lead and perform better each game.
“There’s always competition for places in our team. We’ve got four or five centre midfielders, so it’s just about being ready.”
Manzambi enjoys night to remember