Anthony Gordon Aims for Greater Impact as Barcelona Prepares for Aston Villa Clash
Barcelona winger Anthony Gordon is determined to adopt a more selfish approach as he gears up to face Aston Villa in their upcoming Champions League fixture on Tuesday. The England forward, who joined the Catalan club from Newcastle this summer in a move exceeding £69 million, has been making significant contributions to his new team.
Since his arrival, Gordon has played a key role in helping Barcelona ascend to the top of La Liga, netting three goals across 13 appearances in all competitions, including one in Saturday’s impressive 6-1 victory over Alaves.
At 25 years old, Gordon is eager to enhance his performance in order to assist head coach Hansi Flick in achieving a comprehensive trophy haul this season. “The challenge of joining Barca is different to what I’ve had before because I was fighting relegation for two or three years (at Everton), which was tough,” he shared. “At Newcastle, we were fighting for the Champions League and seeking to climb the table, and now I’m competing with Barca for every trophy.”
Gordon expressed that competing on multiple fronts is a rewarding experience, stating, “I think people think it’s more pressure but it’s actually less pressure than fighting relegation and striving for Champions League placement.” He affirmed his ambition, saying, “I want to win every trophy. I want to be the best. This club allows me to do so.”
Acknowledging his goalscoring potential, he noted, “I think I can do it more, I can maybe be a little bit more selfish sometimes. I think sometimes I maybe pass too much. I should definitely score more goals, but like I said, the reality is goals win games and I’m here to win trophies.”
Gordon is no stranger to facing Aston Villa, having played against them during his time at Everton and Newcastle, where he scored in the Magpies’ 3-0 win on Boxing Day in 2024. Commenting on Villa, he remarked, “They’re one of the most physical teams in the league. They’ve got some great players.”
Despite acknowledging his familiarity with the team, Gordon maintains that his motivation remains consistent. “Certain things can motivate me more than others, but I try to remain the same,” he explained. “The fact they’re English doesn’t make it more motivating.”
Gordon noted Villa’s recent strong performance and readiness for any contest, stating, “They have some great players, I know they all have had a great run as of late, so it’s going to be a difficult game. They’re the type of team that regardless of the game, they’re always in the game, waiting for a moment. We know it will be a tough challenge, but we’re excited for what’s to come.”
