Super John McGinn sets his sights on the Europa League final
John McGinn is in the form of his life and could be the difference for Aston Villa in their Europa League final against Freiburg.
Even before John McGinn bagged a brace to make sure of Aston Villa’s win over Nottingham Forest to reach the Europa League final, he’d been the best player on the pitch. The driving force behind Unai Emery’s team and the beating heart of a club on the brink of European glory for the first time since 1982.
McGinn followed up that Man of the Match performance by sticking a finish over Giorgi Mamardashvili and into the top corner of the Liverpool net as Villa secured a top five finish, and Champions League qualification, against last season’s Premier League champions. It was the perfect way to prepare for Wednesday’s showpiece in Istanbul.
Aston Villa have come a long way under Emery. When the Spaniard arrived at Villa Park nearly four years ago, he took over a team merely attempting to stay in the Premier League. Villa were still aiming to establish themselves at the top level of the English game having finished in the bottom half in each of the previous three campaigns.
Under Emery, though, Aston Villa have reached heights they never thought would be possible and nobody embodies this rise better than McGinn. The Scot was already at the club when Emery arrived. He’d already proved his worth at Premier League level, but the former Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain and Villarreal boss has managed to get even more out of him.
“I can’t speak highly enough of what he’s done here,” said McGinn when asked about Emery’s contribution. “He’s changed the belief of the place, the ambitions, almost single-handedly. His desire, work ethic, determination to succeed and the way he pushes us every single day. We’re very fortunate to have him here and hopefully, we can keep him here for as long as possible.
“Me and him have got a great relationship. He knows he can push me to the limits. He knows that he can trust me in any position that he decides. I think it’s important to have someone that’s got your best interests at heart. And like he always says: the best of me is the best of him.”
As a player, McGinn’s numbers speak for themselves. Only Morgan Rogers has created more Big Chances and chances in general than the Scotland international who is also averaging more possessions won in the final third per 90 minutes than any other Aston Villa player. On both sides of the ball, McGinn is relentless.
McGinn has registered 13 goal contributions in all contributions in a season which was disrupted by a knee injury that sidelined him for two months. Positionally, it can be difficult to pin down the 31-year-old’s role in the Aston Villa team, but he is simply Emery’s man for all jobs and all occasions.
As a character, McGinn might be even more valuable. By all accounts, he is the life and soul of the Villa Park dressing room. His captain’s armband is more than a symbol and instead accurately signifies the position he holds within the Aston Villa team. Without McGinn, Villa wouldn’t have the same drive.
While McGinn is certainly respected as a key figure for Aston Villa, he still doesn’t get the credit he deserves as one of the best, and most consistent, midfielders in the Premier League. At a time when central operators are in high-demand at the elite level of the game, McGinn still manages to fly under the radar.
Another big performance in this season’s Europa League on Wednesday would further entrench McGinn’s status as a modern Aston Villa legend. The way he’s been playing of late, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Scotland international ended up providing the defining contribution of the final against Freiburg.
McGinn also has a World Cup to look forward to with Scotland preparing for their first match in the competition since 1998. Steve Clarke will need the 31-year-old to be in top form if Scotland are to stand any chance of making it out of a World Cup group for the first time in their history. McGinn could make it happen.
Of course, Aston Villa have several players who could decide Wednesday’s match in Istanbul. Ollie Watkins is in fine goalscoring form while Morgan Rogers has created more chances than any other player in this season’s Europa League. Villa might have too much for Freiburg on the night.
In McGinn, though, Villa have someone who could take the match by the scruff of the neck and ensure the club’s greatest night for over four decades. He has made a habit of that over the course of his Aston Villa career and Wednesday’s Europa League final could be his crowning moment.
(Images from IMAGO)
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