John McGinn’s rise from the Championship to the Champions League with Aston Villa has been nothing short of meteoric. After joining Villa in 2018 from Hibernian, McGinn quickly became a key player, showcasing his exceptional energy, vision, and leadership in midfield.
His journey reflects not only his individual growth but also Villa’s resurgence as a top-tier force in European football.
His journey reflects not only his individual growth but also Villa’s resurgence as a top-tier force in European football.
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00:00John McGinn's journey from the Championship to the Champions League has been nothing short
00:08of remarkable, and his impact at Aston Villa has been felt both on and off the pitch. Since
00:14joining in 2018, McGinn has become a vital part of Villa's midfield, known for his tireless
00:19work ethic, leadership and ability to control the tempo of a game. His rise to the elite
00:25level culminating in Villa's qualification for the Champions League is a testament to
00:30his growth as a player. I spoke with Charlie Haffenden of Birmingham World to discuss McGinn's
00:35evolution, his role in Villa's resurgence and how he's been a driving force behind the
00:40club's ambitions to compete at the highest level in European football.
00:48Charlie let's look at Aston Villa and just point out a player who probably deserves a
00:52bit more credit than he gets outside of Aston Villa and the fanbase there in terms of a
00:58neutral perspective. John McGinn, if you look at his season stats from when he joined the
01:04club in 2018, he's never really dropped below a 7 out of 10 rating. He's such a steady player.
01:13That sort of trajectory to go from the Championship when Villa were really struggling, remaining
01:18in the Premier League like they did just by the skin of their teeth and then suddenly
01:21he's in the Champions League. It's been an unbelievable rise, firstly just on his impact
01:27at the club and how Villa fans view him. They must hold him in such great stead. He's been
01:33such a brilliant servant for Aston Villa.
01:36He's been absolutely wonderful for the football club and his personality shines through above
01:41all else I think. Being the captain of course is such an important figure in the dressing
01:45room. But having stayed in this club and staying at the top level and being a starter throughout
01:51all their highs and lows over the last seven or so years has been really impressive as
01:55well. He's even said in recent interviews how he's surprised that he's still starting
01:59for a team that's in the Champions League, that he never imagined this would be the case
02:03beyond his wildest dreams. But Unai Emery has got so much trust in him, the way he can
02:08play in that midfield double pivot like we've seen alongside Yuri Thielemans recently when
02:12Amdou Onana and Boubacar Kamara have been injured. He can go out the right-hand side
02:16as well. He can tuck in as a number 10. That versatility is so important and I don't think
02:21there's a better player in the Premier League right now who can turn so effectively on the
02:25half turn. His low centre of gravity is just tremendous. He's got such strength as well.
02:30I think he's only like 5ft7 or 5ft8 but it feels like he's a lot taller because he can
02:34brush off really physical midfielders and help dominate midfield battles. Of course
02:39he does have moments. He can definitely give the ball away more than you'd hope. But he
02:44tries so hard and he wants to move forward all the time. He doesn't like passing backwards.
02:49He likes to move forward and progress attacks as much as he possibly can. I think Villa
02:53fans really respect that and it's great to see him leading his team out in the Champions
02:56League.
02:57And Charlie, obviously McGinn coming in and he's played under so many different managers.
03:03What do you think the key factor is to him actually becoming favourable under these managers?
03:08You're as far back as Steve Bruce and then Gerrard's phase as well. The new Nye Emery
03:14comes in and maybe there's sort of question marks if Villa were to make that next step
03:19to Europe that McGinn could be one of the players that was left behind. I mean he's
03:23become a favourable. Do you think it's a lot to do with his attitude in terms of becoming
03:27a favourite of these managers?
03:32I think it's definitely the work rate, the stamina as well. We've seen throughout this
03:36season how many injuries Aston Villa have had and how much he's stepped up in playing
03:40successive games. It'll be Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday, Tuesday, etc. Playing in the Champions
03:46League, reaching the latter stages of that. Being in the league phase now, there being
03:49more games in the early stages of the Champions League. Going far in the FA Cup, not going
03:54quite as far in the Carabao, but still having plenty of games to play in that aspect. McGinn
03:59has been at the heart and centre of all of that. As you say, it does stretch back to
04:03previous managers. That work rate, that determination, the versatility that he can play in so many
04:09different positions for Villa has been really important. And his technique, his ability
04:13is just superb as well. I think a lot of that isn't quite appreciated as much as it should
04:18be. That goal in the Championship, you remember the volley firing into that top-hand corner.
04:23He's definitely capable of that. He does admit himself he doesn't score as many goals as
04:26he would perhaps like to, but he does pop up in key moments. We've seen that in the
04:30Champions League, that famous celebration with his goggles because of one of his family
04:34members, one of the children in his family. It just shows his personality. He's always
04:37such a great figure to have around. No wonder he's so popular across so many different managers.