LONDON, CMC – Jamaica’s Premier League star Leon Bailey has urged his Aston Villa teammates to show their quality as they bid to end a long drought in the FA Cup with a visit to Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Villa have been one of the in-form teams in the Premier League and are currently second on 42 points, three adrift of leaders Liverpool.
But without significant success in the FA Cup recently, Bailey said it was important for the club to improve their fortunes, beginning with the third-round weekend outing on Teesside.
“This (the FA Cup) is very important for the club and us as players because we haven’t advanced to the next round in quite some time,” the 26-year-old said.
“We want to give it a go, and all our thoughts are on the weekend against Middlesbrough. “We want to play our style of football and hopefully win the game.”
“Cup games are always difficult, and it doesn’t matter who we play. We need to maintain our level and show our quality.”
Bailey has been one of the standouts for Villa this season under manager Unai Emery, scoring nine goals while creating five assists and 15 chances.
His form has been one of the reasons behind Villa’s red-hot form, which the winger now hopes they can transfer into the premier Cup competition.
“We’re looking forward to the game; it’s important for us,” he said.
“It’s the first game of the year, and hopefully, we can get the win we need to move on to the next round. “We’re only focusing on winning the game.”
Villa have won the FA Cup seven times but have yet to have a triumph in the modern era, their last success coming 67 years ago. The West Midlands club has not reached the fourth round in seven years.
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