Jamaican international and Reggae Boy Leon Bailey has made it clear that he is not worried about the growing competition for places in Aston Villa’s attacking lineup. Speaking in an interview with Birmingham Live, Bailey insisted that the team's success is the primary focus, rather than individual battles for starting roles.
Villa strengthened their forward line significantly during the winter transfer window, acquiring Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio on loan while securing Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund for £20 million. These additions have increased the competition for spots in Unai Emery’s squad, but Bailey remains unfazed, emphasizing the importance of team cohesion over personal concerns.
“There's always competition, but that's not the most important thing,” Bailey stated. “I think the most important thing is being able to play well together. It doesn't matter who is up front; the main thing is ensuring we work as a unit.”
Bailey was the preferred right-wing option over Jaden Philogene in the first half of the season before the club decided to offload the former Hull City man. However, with Rashford and Asensio making impressive starts and Malen catching the eye, the Jamaican winger now faces fresh competition for minutes on the pitch.
Despite Rashford registering the most chances created in all competitions since his February 9 debut, and Asensio scoring braces in successive home matches, Bailey delivered a key assist in Villa’s recent 2-0 FA Cup victory over Cardiff City, setting up Asensio’s goal to double the lead.
Bailey dismissed any notion that competition for places would impact his mindset or performances. “No, I don’t think that’s ever the focus,” he asserted. “I think that’s more for the media. We, as players, don’t think like that. We’re all on the same team, we all have the same objective, and that’s to win games.”
The Jamaican winger further explained that Villa’s focus is on developing chemistry among the squad, rather than internal rivalries. “When you play consistently with your teammates, you build better connections and understanding,” he said. “It’s all about gelling well together. If it's not working for me, we know that we have strong options on the bench who can come in and make a difference. That’s the way to approach it.”
Villa, now just one win away from Wembley, will be in the draw for the FA Cup quarter-finals following Manchester United’s clash with Fulham on Sunday night. Bailey emphasized the significance of progressing to Wembley, not just for the team but for the club’s passionate fan base.
“It's going to be amazing if we can get it done and bring the fans, our families, and everyone to Wembley,” he said. “But we don’t just want to be at Wembley—we want to win there. Our main focus this season is to secure a trophy, and that is what we are aiming for.”