2026-03-19 11:46:58
John McGinn says Aston Villa must win a trophy under Unai Emery to avoid the “maybe team” tag.
Villa have made superb progress since the Spanish coach took charge in 2022 and the club captain has urged them to secure a first piece of silverware since 1996 – and a spot in next season’s Champions League – by winning the Europa League.
Speaking ahead of Villa’s last 16 second leg clash with Lille on Thursday (19.03.26), McGinn said: “Unai Emery has a reputation for getting over the finishing line, not getting close to it.
“We don’t want to be a maybe team. We don’t want to be a team where people say ‘Aye, they were not bad.’
“We want something to show for it. We know there’s expectation and that we are one of the favourites to win the competition, but it’s up to us to deliver performances and results that prove why.”
The Scotland international added: “At the end of the PSG game (in the Champions League) last season, we got a lot of plaudits but essentially we had failed in our task. That’s what the manager has driven into us.
“At certain stages we haven’t managed ties properly. We haven’t managed these games correctly, but what we’ve learned from them we can use to our advantage and give ourselves the best chance to go one step further.”
Villa’s domestic form has collapsed in recent weeks but McGinn doesn’t think that injuries can be used as an excuse for disappointing results.
He said: “When you lose three of your midfield, I think most teams in the country would struggle. I feel the expectation and pressure to remind players of what it takes to play for Aston Villa.
“It’s a demanding club to play for. When you set standards, you are expected to meet them again. When you fall short of that, you get criticism, which is part of playing for a big club.”
Visit Bang Premier (main website)
