Marcus Rashford has articulated that Aston Villa's participation in the UEFA Champions League played a pivotal role in his decision to join the club on loan for the remainder of the season. This marks Rashford's first public comments following his arrival in Birmingham, effectively signalling the end of a challenging chapter at Manchester United. The forward last featured for United in mid-December before expressing a desire for a new challenge, which ultimately led to his transfer to Villa Park on Sunday. He is poised to integrate seamlessly into Unai Emery's squad.
Aston Villa's successful progression to the knockout stages of this season's Champions League presents Rashford with the opportunity to compete at this elite level for the first time since 2022. In contrast, Manchester United's hopes of qualifying for the prestigious tournament through the Premier League appear increasingly precarious, with the team currently sitting in 13th place in the league standings. Rashford took the opportunity to express his satisfaction at having outlasted United manager Ruben Amorim, stating, "I think it's clear. We're obviously still in the Champions League, we want to go as far as we can in that. If you don't aim to win it, you're never going to win it. That'll be my main objective, and keep pushing in the league to get as high as possible," as reported by The Mirror.
Rashford acknowledged the significance of the Champions League, remarking, "Obviously, (it's) the biggest competition for a club to be involved in. I'm sure it will be a new experience for me, playing for Villa in the Champions League. It's always going to be a great moment, but the aims remain the same, to try and do our best to win it." Drawing from his extensive experience in the tournament, he expressed confidence in his ability to meet the competition's demands. "I've played a fair amount of games in the Champions League, so I feel like I'm experienced and know how to handle those types of situations. But, like I say, it's a new environment, new team, new team-mates, so it's about shared experiences and using each other's experiences to help you get through the game and hopefully keep winning."
Despite Amorim’s willingness to facilitate his departure, Rashford is resolute in proving he can perform at the highest level. He highlighted the opportunity to work under Unai Emery as a significant factor in his move to the Midlands club. "I know I can hurt teams, I know when I'm playing at my best, I can decide football games. That'll be my only ambition and only goal, to help the team win more games, more points and hopefully create history," he remarked.
Expressing his enthusiasm for joining Villa during a period of ambition and growth, Rashford stated, "It's an ambitious time for this club and a great opportunity for me to join the team and help them keep pushing forward. I'm excited, can't wait for the first training session and obviously the first game." He praised Emery, noting, "(Unai Emery is) a top manager and what he's done at the club since he's come to Villa is unbelievable. It's the constant ambition that's attractive, and it's why you want to join such a club." He concluded, "You want to keep improving year on year, and that's what the team has been doing and are doing this year. It's a club that's in a good position in the league, and they're pushing to get higher. Still in the Champions League, a good, ambitious manager and great talent in the squad."
Rashford's arrival at Villa Park not only bolsters the squad but also underscores the club's aspirations on both domestic and European fronts. As he embarks on this new chapter, the footballing world will be watching closely to see how he contributes to Aston Villa's quest for glory.