John McGinn calls Spurs test 'the most important game' in Villa's recent history | Aston Villa

Aston Villa captain John McGinn described Sunday's key top-four match at home as Tottenham Hotspur as the most important league match in the club's recent history.

Victoria de Villa, who is fourth in the first division, would extend their lead over the fifth-placed Spurs to eight points with 10 games left (although the Spurs have played one less game). McGinn, who joined Villa in 2018, said the players understood the importance of the Tottenham trial. Fourth place would guarantee the Champions League for Villa, who have not played in the European Cup since 1982-83.

“It's probably, in a league game, the biggest game in the club's recent history,” McGinn said. “So the players are aware of it. If I feel that over the next few days the children are not noticing, I will remind them.

“The fans will be up to the task and we must remember that Tottenham will be too. We got away with one less at the Tottenham stadium (when Villa won 2-1 in November). They are a really good team that we will fully respect. But we know that at Villa Park we are strong and hopefully we can get three points.”

Villa have been in great form at home this season, losing just twice in the league, and host Spurs three days after the Europa Conference League last 16 first leg. 0-0 draw against Ajax in Amsterdam. McGinn said Villa players had openly discussed their desire to qualify for Europe's premier competition, which the club won in 1982, after finishing seventh last season.

“We talk about it, we are ambitious,” said the Scottish midfielder. “Obviously we want to achieve something the club hasn't achieved in a long, long time. Our goal since last year was to try to improve and be competitive in this competition, as we have done until now. The coach has emphasized that he will judge the season after matchday 32 and see where we are from there.

“We want to improve, get into the Europa League and then maybe try to get to the Champions League. We know it's in our hands and we have a series of really exciting games. “Many of us have been through the journey with the club so we have experienced the lowest moments and hopefully the highest moments are yet to come.”

Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey is a doubt after suffering a foot problem in victory against Luton last weekend, but defender Pau Torres is fit to play after being taken off at half-time in Amsterdam to monitor his fitness.