Jadon Sancho scored his first goal for Aston Villa, helping the team to a 1-0 victory over Fenerbahce in the Europa League. His 25th-minute header secured Aston Villa a top-eight finish with one game to spare, and they cruised to a perfect record in Friday's Istanbul campaign.  

The 25-year-old reviewed the process of scoring the winning goal and explained the "inside joke" behind his celebration. Jadon Sancho said: "I'm very happy to score my first goal for Aston Villa, it means a lot to me. I don't quite remember how the ball was switched to the right wing, I just remember the ball being passed into the penalty area."  

“I noticed Ollie Watkins standing in front of me, and I think the defender headed the ball over. It was a perfect pass, perfectly timed, and the ball landed right on my head. The feeling at the moment of contact was fantastic.”  

"Did you guys notice me pointing to the bench after I scored? That was actually a joke between us. I was referring to Ezri Konsa on the sidelines, because we practiced headers together a few weeks ago, and they joked that I would never score with a header. Looking back, it's actually quite funny."  

In addition, Jadon Sancho highly praised Unai Emery's tactical arrangements and the team's execution in the game, and turned his attention to Sunday's Premier League away game against Newcastle United.  

The winger added: “Away games are always challenging, especially without the support of home fans. Although the fans who traveled with the team today were very good, Turkish fans are known for their enthusiasm and noise, which undoubtedly adds to the difficulty for the away team.”  

“We strictly followed the manager’s game plan and successfully put a lot of pressure on our opponents. Next up is a tough away game against Newcastle United, and right now the most important thing is to focus on recovery and be fully prepared for Sunday’s game.”  

Image source: Internet/Aston Villa official website