Aston Villa captain John McGinn has expressed excitement about leading what he calls the "new Aston Villa" after a summer of significant change at the club. The midfielder acknowledged the departure of key players and coaching staff, but insisted that other Premier League clubs are experiencing more turbulence.
Key departures and new arrivals
Unai Emery has lost three key players this summer: Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, and Lucas Digne. Digne could feature against his former club on Wednesday night in the UEFA Super Cup after returning to Paris Saint-Germain. Tielemans was Villa's first major departure, joining Manchester United for £35 million after the Red Devils triggered his release clause. Rogers then became the most expensive British player in history when he joined Chelsea for £117 million.
Emery has also lost three members of his coaching staff in recent months, including assistants Pako Ayestarán and Antonio Rodríguez Saravia, as well as set-piece coach Austin MacPhee.
McGinn's perspective on change
McGinn, who has been at Villa for eight years, reflected on the club's evolution since promotion to the Premier League. "A lot has changed in the eight years that I’ve been here. When we got promoted to the Premier League, there was a lot of change in the summer," he said. "When you’re signing the best young English talent, there’s going to be interest in them. When your players are performing at the highest level, there’s going to be interest."
He added: "We’ve got a structure in place, we’ve got standards and rules which have made us successful over the past few seasons and our job is just to integrate the new players and try and make them believe, in the same way the players in the last few seasons have believed and I’m really excited by the sort of ‘new Aston Villa’."
Expectations for the season ahead
Asked where Villa fans' expectations should be for next season, McGinn said: "Similar to where it has been in the past few seasons. I think we have consistently competed with the best in England." He continued: "I think we have consistently competed with the best in Europe, no matter what the competition is. We will have our challenges. There is a lot of change, but when you look at other clubs around England there is a lot of change there as well."
He noted that many coaches and players are changing across the league, but Villa retains its core: "What we have still is our main core - same manager, same methods, same desire to achieve more. So a lot of people thought we had reached our ceiling a couple of seasons ago, and we proved them wrong." McGinn concluded: "We have still got the same hunger and desire to go and achieve more. And as long as we’ve got the hunger and desire to do that, the Aston Villa fans can expect as much as possible."
Emery's view on the club's progress
Emery, who will be contesting his fourth UEFA Super Cup as a coach, praised the club's commitment and progress. He was a runner-up with Sevilla in 2014 and 2015 before suffering the same fate with Villarreal in 2021. His Villa side are aiming to become the first Europa League holders to win the Super Cup since Atlético Madrid in 2018.
Emery believes occasions like this can enhance Villa's profile as a global brand, which is important as the club look to increase revenues and close the financial gap to the so-called 'big six'. He said: "I am so, so, so happy how the club is getting the commitment to win with us. How we are getting better, keeping our consistency in the Premier League, three years ago and this year fourth."
He added: "This is the objective we have, how we can be consistent even with the circumstances we have. It’s not changing. The effort the club are doing is huge, to try to be in the same direction as I am trying to be. They are trying to extend Villa Park to 50,000 supporters. This is one step forward."
Emery also addressed the changes, saying: "We are increasing our budget through results on the pitch, sometimes selling some players, being consistent and expecting a high level and more or less keeping it. The Premier League is the first league in the world and Aston Villa can now have a better brand in the way we are. It’s a huge responsibility for me and the players."
He praised McGinn's response to questions about change: "We must all be on the same page. Even with the changes – you ask questions about the changes of coaches and players – but McGinn is intelligent and his answer was fantastic." Emery noted that when McGinn arrived, Villa were in the Championship, and every year since, there have been changes and still the club has moved forward.
Comparing Villa to top clubs, Emery said: "If we compare ourselves to other clubs like Man City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool, we are competing with them. We don’t have their power… yet." He added: "But progressively we are doing our way. One thing I appreciate a lot is to be happy the way we are going and don’t compare with our clubs. Sometimes they are above us, sometimes below us."
Super Cup preparations
Emery confirmed that Konsa, Watkins, and Martinez are not available for the Super Cup as they finished their season on July 19 and were given four weeks to rest. He said: "Tomorrow we won’t be in our best moment, but it’s the same for PSG. I’ve played the Super Cup three times and all three have been more or less similar." He added: "Tomorrow we are going to compete. Konsa, Watkins and Martinez are not here as they finished their season on July 19 and I gave them four weeks to rest, which is completely necessary. If they were here, maybe we’d have more chances, but I think it will be the same for PSG."
He concluded: "Tomorrow we are preparing this game with the players who started four weeks ago. I expect us to compete. They are favourites, of course."
