“It’s Aston Villa,” John McGinn told Sky Sports. “We’re not going to make things easy for ourselves.” Still, they are one game away from the European final. “We have set ourselves a somewhat difficult task, but we are confident that we can overcome it.”
That confidence emanating from the B6 has waned of late. A one-goal lead away to Nottingham Forest in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final was one thing. Sunday’s Premier League home defeat to Tottenham was a very different story.
The pressure is on for the second leg. But if there’s any reason to believe, it’s because of McGuinn’s unique shape that makes him a fan favorite. The captain missed the Spurs game as a precaution but is expected to return to lead the team at Villa Park on Thursday.
Aston Villa captain John McGinn is interviewed by Sky Sports at Villa Park.
“We worked hard to get the second leg at home, that was the big aim,” said McGinn, speaking to Sky Sports inside Villa Park. “This is a special place. If we can score the first goal, this place will definitely be rock solid.”
McGinn has seen many nights like that at this famous old ground. He has also scored in matches such as the 3-2 second leg win over Paris Saint-Germain in last season’s Champions League, when Villa put the eventual winner through the ropes.
McGinn’s presence will surely help. Eight years into his Villa career, his style of play, his vibrant energy and genuine quality continues to resonate with fans. He seems to be eating them. Six of his seven goals this season have come on home soil.
“The manager touches on that quite a bit. He likes to think I’m a different player here.” McGinn disagrees, but is animated about the support he gets from the stands and what it means to him. “For me, there is no better place to play soccer,” he says.
Aston Villa captain John McGinn recently made his 300th appearance for the club.
The likable Scot has admitted in the past that he only knew of Villa Park from the FIFA video game before signing for the club. But that connection is now very real. “It would mean everything,” he says when asked about the possibility of lifting the trophy.
McGinn, 31, has done the same at previous clubs. When he won the Scottish League Cup with St Mirren as a teenager, it was the club’s first major honor in 26 years. He then helped Hibernian end a 114-year wait to win the Scottish Cup.
It’s been a 30-year wait for Villa. “I know what that means to people,” McGinn says. “I know what it means to the supporters who have been traveling for years and haven’t experienced success. So I also understand the magnitude of this game. We all know what’s at stake.”
Still, there’s a sense that McGinn understands it better than most. It’s rare to find someone so down-to-earth and loved both as a player and as a person. He says, “I’m trying to explain to the new players that this is a club where people have a purpose in life,” and the supporters appreciate this.
I think being captain at Aston Villa is about more than just football.
John McGinn
“I think being captain at Aston Villa is about more than just football. It’s about understanding that you’re playing for a purpose. We have a proud history so it’s up to us to add to that.” In this context, is it any wonder Steven Gerrard gave him the Villa captaincy?
“He said it’s because of the way I deal with people, not only on the training ground but also around the stadium. That’s what I’m proud of. Everyone at this club is valuable and we’re all rallying in the same direction. I’m proud of that responsibility. I’m really enjoying it.”
Aston Villa captain John McGinn speaks at the El Gouna Partnership event at Villa Park.
Gerrard was not the first to notice such qualities in himself. Gordon Strachan, the Scotland manager at the time, is said to have been impressed by McGinn, who he saw as an Under-21 player assisting staff who were having trouble transporting mannequins and cones to the training ground.
Strachan then decided he would call up McGinn to the first team as soon as the opportunity presented itself. McGinn already knows the story. He didn’t know it at the time. “I didn’t think he was watching at the time.” Of course, that’s what makes this story so compelling.
He credits that to his upbringing growing up in Clydebank and the schooling he also received at St Mirren. McGinn’s work ethic on and off the field remains the same. “I’m just as hungry today as I was when I was 17 or 18. I want to be successful. I want to keep moving forward.”
He added: “I don’t think this will ever leave me. I’m a little calmer with referees. I’m getting fewer yellow cards. But I’m older, wiser, more experienced. That hunger will remain until my last game in football, whether it’s 31, 37 or 38.”
He recently signed a new contract with Villa, but it will be a while yet. There were probably financial constraints on Unai Emery keeping this group together for so long, but it has led to synergy, togetherness and greater chemistry on the pitch.
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John McGinn scored twice against Nottingham Forest at Villa Park earlier this season.
“We’ve got a lot of players who have been here a long time, some quality nights, some good memories.” But the next few weeks could still be decisive. The supporters are just desperate for a trophy.
“We have come a long way as a club but there is still much to achieve,” he admits. “Lifting silverware as Aston Villa captain is my number one priority.” But can he actually do it?
It won’t be easy to overturn this tie in Europe against an in-form Nottingham Forest side. These Villa players will certainly need to show more than they have of late. “We have to make a huge improvement from last week,” McGinn admitted.
But a big night awaits, boosted by the return of the man who scored twice against Forest at Villa Park earlier this season. “This team has proven in the past that it can perform when it matters, and we need to prove it again.”
