Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa does not think it is a "surprise" that the team are in the top eight of the Champions League table ahead of their clash at Monaco on Tuesday. 

Villa are fifth in the competition's new 36-team standings with 13 points from six games in their first appearance in a major European tournament since the 1982-83 season. 

Unai Emery's side have already recorded victories over Bundesliga duo Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig in the league phase, while also holding Juventus to a goalless draw. 

Only Atalanta (nine), Liverpool (nine) and Feyenoord (seven) have won more points in Champions League away games so far this season than the Villans (six). 

They have guaranteed a place in the play-offs at least and face Monaco next, hoping to put themselves in a strong position for automatic qualification heading into the final game.

"It is terrific [our position]. Finding out the teams we were going to play, we knew it would be difficult," Konsa said. 

"We are a team that believes in ourselves, especially with the manager we have. 

"He has put so much confidence in us. Going into every game, we were confident we were going to win, no matter who we were up against.

"I wouldn't say it is a surprise [we are up there]. We are a great team and I think we have proven it. Long may we continue doing that."

Villa arrive at the Stade Louis-II with confidence after coming from two goals down to draw with Arsenal in their last Premier League encounter. 

And Emery will be positive about earning all three points against a side he enjoyed particular success against during his time in charge of Paris Saint-Germain. 

He has won each of his last six games against Monaco across all competitions (all with PSG) with the aggregate scoreline of those fixtures being 23-4.

His last match against them was a 7-1 victory in a Ligue 1 clash back in April 2018, though a similar result this time around seems unlikely. 

Villa are winless in their four away matches against French sides in Europe (D2 L2), with the most recent of those coming last season, in a defeat away to Lille in the Conference League (1-2 in the quarter-final second leg in April).