Leon Bailey .
After Leon Bailey scored his first UEFA Champions League objective on Tuesday, the Aston Villa winger says he’s hoping to carry extra eyes to Jamaica globally.
The Reggae Boyz ahead netted within the opening 5 minutes in Villa’s necessary 3-1 away win towards Membership Brugge of their first-leg round-of-16 tie on the Jan Breydel Stadium in Belgium.
The objective was Bailey’s first objective in Europe’s elite competitors after going scoreless in his earlier eight appearances. His effort, together with a Marco Asensio penalty and Brandon Mechele’s personal objective, give Villa the benefit heading into subsequent Wednesday’s second leg.
Bailey says he’s glad to have performed an necessary position within the English membership’s success on Tuesday.
“To have the ability to come right here and get a win, it’s wonderful and to high that, I bought my first Champions League objective so it was wonderful,” he stated.
“It’s positively necessary, particularly as a result of we bought the objective very early. That is what we need to do after we play away, it gave us a lot confidence transferring ahead within the recreation. I feel we performed brilliantly, we didn’t permit an excessive amount of alternatives nevertheless it’s an excellent feeling to return right here and everyone’s buzzing.”
The 27-year-old joins a prestigious record of Jamaicans to have scored within the Champions League and simply the second to attain within the knockout levels, becoming a member of former Reggae Boy Wes Morgan who did so for Leicester Metropolis.
Bailey says he’s pleased with his Jamaican connection and hopes to proceed shining on the world stage.
“It’s factor to know that I’m placing my nation on the map; my individuals, my household, simply Jamaica on an entire. To have the ability to put them on the map and showcase my expertise, hopefully much more individuals can come up from Jamaica and get this chance to do what I’m doing,” he stated.
“For me, it’s a particular feeling and I hope I can proceed scoring extra targets within the Champions League and that is the objective and the intention.”
Though at present targeted on his membership, Bailey is eyeing a spot for the Reggae Boyz within the Concacaf Gold Cup this summer season.
Jamaica, nonetheless, must get by St Vincent and the Grenadines within the residence and away qualifiers on March 21 and 25.
Bailey, although, says he’s assured the Steve McClaren-coached staff will have the ability to match up towards the area’s powerhouses together with hosts USA in June.
“I’m wanting ahead to the Gold Cup already, we simply must get the qualifiers full and I’m certain we’ll be there. I’m certain it’s going to be Gold Cup for us and I’m actually excited and looking out ahead to it. Hopefully we will do good issues this 12 months and that’s the objective,” he stated.
Bailey can also be trying to finish the season strongly for Villa, having seen his kind dip over the course of the season.
He’s struggled to copy his kind from the 2023/24 season, throughout which he scored 14 targets and supplied 14 assists throughout all competitions. This season, he’s solely managed two targets and three assists in 34 matches.
Bailey, although, isn’t phased by the drop off and plans to push on.
“It’s loads of ups and downs, a number of bumps within the highway however I’ve come from very humble beginnings, I by no means let something get me down so I’m simply actually in place proper now and I’m feeling good. We simply hope we will end the season robust,” he stated.
Villa, who completed fourth final season, are at present tenth on 42 factors however are simply 5 factors off the highest 4 with 10 video games remaining.
