In an exclusive interview with TNT Sports, Sancho was all smiles as he praised the club’s performance so far this term.
“It’s great for the club,” he said. “From the beginning of the season, our goal was to achieve Champions League football and win the trophy, so I feel that the season is going very well and that’s the case for myself as well.”
Sitting with Sancho at the club’s training ground, you can feel him becoming more relaxed and settled in his new surroundings.
The winger completed his move to Villa on a season-long loan from Manchester United on the final day of the summer transfer window.
This will be Sancho’s second loan spell in the Premier League after spending the 2024-25 season with Chelsea.
Villa had a difficult start to the season, not winning a single game until the end of September, but have since maintained their form and are strong candidates to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
As the season progressed, Sancho grew in confidence on the pitch and credited his team-mates for their contribution to his development.
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Sancho: ‘Shout out to John’ on Captain McGinn’s influence at Villa
Video credit: TNT Sports
“It’s my teammates and the coach who gave me that confidence and belief,” he said.
“My teammates have been very good to me. I feel like I can do more because I know myself well. But apart from that, I’m just happy that the team is doing well and that we’re in a good position.”
However, there is one player who stands out in Sancho’s heart.
“When you have a captain like John McGinn, you already know the atmosphere,” he explains.
“Shout out to John for that because he has been great with me since day one.
“He’s a really great guy, a great guy on the pitch and off the pitch. He works hard on the pitch, but off the pitch he’s just a normal, normal guy.
“Some people may not see him as a captain, but when you see him on the pitch you understand why he is Aston Villa’s captain and how he helps the team.”
McGinn has missed 10 games since being injured in January and his absence has been felt as Villa have won just four and picked up eight points from their last seven league games.
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Sancho talks about how ‘demanding’ Emery brings out the best in his Villa team
Video credit: TNT Sports
McGinn’s absence coincided with a decline in Villa’s form, but fellow favorites Chelsea and Liverpool were unable to capitalize on it, with their Champions League fate still in their hands.
With Unai Emery at the helm, Villa supporters will be confident the club can qualify for the Champions League if they win the Europa League this season, even if they don’t finish in the top five.
The Spaniard has won four trophies in his managerial career and Sancho praised the Villa manager for doing the best in his group.
“I think he’s very demanding of all his players,” Sancho said. “He gives you a job to do and you can work with the team around him to help your game and also improve the team.
“As players, we take that into account, we take that into the game, we perfect that plan, and what we can accomplish together as a team is just perfect.”
“It’s not just about statistics”
Manager Emery has shown a lot of confidence in Sancho during this season’s European matches, with the winger fully fit and starting seven of the eight games.
The forward admits he can do more for the team, with the numbers showing he has contributed just one goal and one assist in all competitions so far.
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“It’s the little things that count” – Sancho on the importance of statistics in football
Video credit: TNT Sports
However, Sancho believes that statistics are not necessarily indicators of performance.
“I feel like statistics are very important, especially for offensive players,” he said. “It gives you confidence, but it’s not just about the stats, it’s about the feel of the play.
“You just have to know your style of play and if you can contribute to the team defensively, little things like that are important.”
Sancho could be the club’s lucky charm as Villa aim to win their first silver medal in 30 years.
The forward incredibly appeared in three consecutive finals with three different teams.
Sancho experienced heartbreak in the first two games, with Manchester City winning the 2023 FA Cup over rivals United and Real Madrid defeating Borussia Dortmund to win the 2024 UEFA Champions League.
Third time was lucky for Sancho last season when he scored a goal and played a key role in helping Chelsea beat Real Betis to win the UEFA Conference League.
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Sancho scores ‘brilliant goal’ as Chelsea take control against Betis
Video credit: TNT Sports
Asked if he could continue his incredible record of reaching finals with Villa, Sancho said: “We always have to win every game.
“We can never get ahead of ourselves, but we are in a great position. If you believe, you can achieve it, and that’s my approach.”
“I’m confident that as long as we continue to work hard throughout the season, it’s possible (to reach another final).”
If Villa reach this year’s Europa League final in Istanbul, Sancho will have the chance to make history and become the first English player to score in consecutive European finals.
“Personally, that would be a great accomplishment,” he explained. “I’ve been to the final three times in the last three years, so it would be a great feeling to get to the final again.
“For me and for the fans, it would be great to be able to celebrate together in Birmingham, but that’s a big assumption.
“I want to focus on one game at a time and then see what happens.”
