Modern football may be increasingly dominated by financial discussions, but Aston Villa captain John McGinn believes his club possesses something that money cannot buy. Financial fair play regulations have restricted Villa's spending while rivals like Chelsea continue to invest heavily, yet McGinn argues that Villa's rise under Unai Emery demonstrates that success can still be achieved regardless of financial constraints.
"The rules are for people smarter than me," explains Villa's captain. "But clubs are spending a billion pounds to try and achieve what we are achieving. That might not look like success when you are a player and you look at your trophy cabinet at the end of the season, or a supporter that craves success. And I am sure any player in that dressing room or any supporter would give anything up to have that trophy. But what we are continuing to achieve with the restrictions is incredible. It is a credit not only to the boss and those involved in the club but the core group of players."
McGinn, who is expected to recover from a hamstring niggle to start Thursday's Europa League semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest, is front and centre of that group. As Villa's longest-serving current player, having joined from Hibernian for £2.5 million in 2018 when the club were in the Championship, the 31-year-old has again led from the front this season.
It was the Scotland international whose goal earned a Villa side which failed to win any of its first six matches in all competitions a belated first victory in late September, sparking a run of 17 wins in 19 games which at one stage saw them in the title race. His return in March, from a near two-month injury lay-off, then helped galvanise them again at a point when the campaign, both in the Premier League and in Europe, was threatening to peter out.
After a difficult summer transfer window, which led to fears of stagnation, it is the "old guard" of McGinn, Ezri Konsa, Matty Cash, Ollie Watkins and Emi Martinez who have continued to deliver. A return to the Champions League for the second time in three seasons is within reach, while Villa are in a semi-final for the third successive campaign.
Had the club been able to flex their financial muscles as they would like, it is likely several players would have long been replaced but McGinn believes the fact they have remained together, gaining shared experiences, has been key to the club's transformation under Emery. "The club has tried to move forward each year to improve the squad but each player still here has shown we are still capable of performing at this level," he said.
"I think it is credit to the core that's still there: Ezri, Cashy, Tyrone, Emi, myself, Ollie – players who know what playing for Aston Villa means and have been on the journey together. I don't think there is pressure in the sense of that coming to an end but what it would do is make success even sweeter than a group that is created solely by money. I think the restrictions have helped us in a way, stay together as a core, I think that will make any success that is coming even more special."
The question is whether Villa can now take the next step and secure some silverware, with Thursday's Europa League semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest among the club's biggest matches in decades. With defeats at the last-four stage of the Conference League and FA Cup in the past two seasons, McGinn is determined to no longer be nearly men as he seeks to become the first Villa captain since Andy Townsend, 30 years ago, to lift a major trophy.
Those previous semi-final losses, to Olympiacos and Crystal Palace, have prompted questions about Villa's character in the biggest matches. "Do you hear it (the criticism)? The answer would be no," says McGinn. "But you feel it yourself. You have pride and you want to take that step, we all want to take the step we know we are missing. In 20 to 25 years time will we have pride for taking Aston Villa from the Championship to the top stages of the Premier League? Of course we will. But will that be forgotten about when we leave? 100 per cent. The club will continue to build."
"We want to be a team that is remembered for winning silverware. Does that come with pressure because you missed out previously? Probably, aye. But there is always pressure playing for Aston Villa and that is no different. Are we aware of it? Of course we are. It makes us more determined to go and take one step further. If there are critics, it would probably be deserved. But there is nothing better in football – and I say it all the time – than proving people wrong. People will have doubts until we take that step. There are only 16 people on Thursday night who can change it."
The presence of Emery, a four-time Europa League winner in the dugout, could be Villa's trump card. While the Spaniard has always claimed the Premier League is his top priority, this competition is obviously close to his heart. McGinn pointed to Emery's post-match outburst following VAR's "baffling" decision not to review Elliot Anderson's challenge on Ollie Watkins during last week's first leg, as evidence of the manager's insatiable desire to win. "I don't think there is anyone at the club that is more determined to succeed for the club, other than me, than the manager," said McGinn. "His focus, his determination and his drive to take this club further will never be higher. Obviously, there is a balance of still doing what he is good at and putting together a plan to win the game. But he is a winner, who has proven over time why and how."
McGinn recalls a quote in a video featuring actor and Villa supporter David Bradley, often screened at the ground prior to big matches, as a reminder of how the pain of the past makes the triumphs of tomorrow feel all the more special. "He says: 'The lows are low, but they make the highs higher'," explains McGinn. "That's something as a player I'm aware of, you feel the hurt of the semi-finals and that drives you on to do the opposite. I've experienced it both ways as a Hibs player. It meant the same to us as players. With Scotland, we lost the World Cup play-off and the next time we qualified. It's not something you think of in the tunnel, it's not: 'are we afraid?' or 'are we a nearly team?'. It's 'let's not do that again, let's create new memories'. I think this team deserves that."
Aston Villa officially launched its partnership with El Gouna Red Sea, marking a strategic step in the club's international expansion. The collaboration brings together elite football performance with a premium coastal destination, combining sport, lifestyle and storytelling to engage global audiences. The announcement event featured senior leadership from both organisations alongside club captain John McGinn and former Villa and Egypt international Ahmed Elmohamady, underscoring the partnership's shared ambition and cultural connection.
