Aston Villa captain John McGinn has expressed that the journey from the Championship to the Europa League final makes winning the trophy even more special. He believes that the supporters who endured difficult away trips to places like Rotherham and Wigan deserve to share in the glory just as much as the players.
McGinn Reflects on Villa's Remarkable Rise
As the club's longest-serving player and captain, McGinn is determined to cap one of his finest seasons with silverware and become the first Villa skipper to lift a trophy since Andy Townsend in 1996. Standing in their way are SC Freiburg, as Villa aim to end a 30-year trophy drought and secure their first European honour in 44 years.
“I’ve pictured it because that was the dream at the start of the season - to get to the final,” McGinn explained. “We were in the Conference League and the dream was to get to the final. It was in the Champions League too. But this season we have managed to deal with each game and each round with the same respect that we will treat Freiburg with. They deserve to be in the final. The final message to our players is to play at the same level that we have done as a group for the years that have put us in this position.”
Only Two Players Remain from Championship Days
McGinn and Tyrone Mings are the only two players in Aston Villa’s current squad who also featured during the club’s time in the Championship. Both have played pivotal roles in Villa’s remarkable rise over the past seven years—a journey that began with victory in the 2019 play-off final against Derby County at Wembley Stadium.
“Personally, I think it does [mean more] because if we lost that match, are Aston Villa here right now? Probably not. The club had just been taken over by Nassef and Wes, who are still contributing now, so the journey has been amazing and each player and staff member has played their part in the growth of the club. It’s an important moment. It’s hard to believe that seven years ago we were competing in a final to get back into the Premier League. For us, tomorrow night, it will be nice to see the supporters who were there at Rotherham away and Wigan away. Nights like that when it’s much easier to stay at home. They deserve it as much as the players and hopefully we can give them something to remember.”
