Aston Villa boss Unai Emery hopes Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford can fire his side to FA Cup glory.
Asensio’s second-half double, one of which was set up by Rashford, helped Villa to their first quarter-final in a decade with a 2-0 win over Championship strugglers Cardiff.
The pair have both made a big impact since joining on loan in the January transfer window, with Asensio scoring four goals and Rashford making three of them.
United outcast Rashford is understood to be open to extending his stay in the Midlands with his loan deal set to expire in the summer.
For now Emery is just delighted to see the England star playing with a smile on his face and is confident the 27-year-old will cement his place in his short-term plans.
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Emery said: ‘Each one is playing in his position, trying to feel comfortable.
‘And the players are understanding as well where are the spaces are to use them and trying to overcome the difficulties with the opponent they were facing us.
‘Of course, I am very happy how they played and how they are adapting to us.
‘We will need them for the next matches and the challenges we have.’
Emery said his side are not contenders for the competition before the game, but with Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea already out, they are one of the strongest teams left.
‘We are now in the quarter-final and it is one step forward in the competition, we didn’t do that in the last two years’ he added.
‘There are some teams who are more favourite than us, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle.
‘We know this competition is a way for a trophy, a way for Wembley, a way for Europa League and prestige for the club and the supporters are excited and motivated to try and share this opportunity with us.’
Asensio’s impact, meanwhile, has been nothing short of sensational and the Spaniard says there is more to come as Villa prepare for next week’s Champions League last-16 first-leg with with Club Brugge.
‘Attention is really good, I’m really happy with the team-mates, with the staff, they give me a lot of confidence, so I try to do my best in the pitch,’ Asensio told the club’s official website.
‘And it’s going well, so I want to score more, give more to this team, to this club and that’s my objective.
‘We have to keep pushing, we are in the right way, so the next step is Champions League and now the focus is there.’
Asensio has struck up a good understanding with fellow new recruit Rashford, who has assisted three of his four goals.
He added: ‘Marcus is a good player. We are together not so much but I know what he wants to do, where he passes, I am very happy to have Marcus and all the team-mates.
‘We have a good level to try and do big things.’
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