'We're a force' - John McGinn identifies Aston Villa advantage vs Tottenham amid top four race

Aston Villa captain John McGinn has labelled their upcoming Premier League clash with Tottenham as «the most important game in the club's recent history» — and insisted the home crowd at Villa Park could prove the difference in the clash. The match could have a huge impact on who secures a top-four finish and Champions League football next season.

If Villa, managed by Unai Emery, win, they'll extend their lead over Spurs to eight points. However, a loss would allow the London team to close the gap to just two points, with an extra game still to play.

McGinn is well aware of the significance of this game, especially since Villa have never qualified for the Champions League before. He said: «Everyone knows how important the game is,» and added that he would remind his teammates if he felt they didn't understand the gravity of the situation.

He also acknowledged the strength of their opponents, saying: «They're a really good team who we'll fully respect. But we know at Villa Park we're a force and hopefully we can get three points.»

But he remains confident in Villa's abilities, especially when playing at home at Villa Park.

While Villa won the European Cup back in 1982, they've never participated in the modern Champions League. McGinn revealed that the team has been discussing the possibility of qualifying and are ambitious about their chances.

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«Obviously we want to achieve something that the club haven't achieved in a long, long time,» he said. «Our focus from last year was to try to improve and be competitive in this competition which we've done so