McGinn discoversVilla have hidden strengths
CAPTAIN John McGinn has lavished praise on Villa head coach Unai Emery and said: “He is finding strengths in people’s games we probably didn’t realise ourselves.”
Emery has helped catapult Villa to within a whisker of the top half of the Premier League following three big wins from four, while also proving the club can mix it with the best after their emphatic 2-0 victory at Tottenham on New Year’s Day.
“Football is a funny old game,” said McGinn. “That is us winning three out of four. That comes with confidence, the manager has given us a lot of that. There is a clear way of playing.
“Some players are in positions which are a little bit unfamiliar but he is finding strengths in people’s games we probably didn’t realise ourselves.
“He gives us a clear plan. Going to places like Spurs and winning is something we are aiming for moving forwards.”
McGinn added: “You don’t get anything easy in this game, especially in this league.
“There are challenges which will come. It is not going to be plain sailing all the time, the manager knows that.
“The other day (against Liverpool) was a bump in the road, even though we could probably have nicked a point.
“He is a top-class manager and we just have to take on board what he is saying.
“He has a clear message to stay humble and that is what we will do. If we keep putting in the effort we have quality to hurt teams. Sunday showed that.”
Villa are rising in the table but the Scottish midfielder is refusing to get carried away.
He said: “It wasn’t that long ago we were only a few positions off the bottom.
“If we’d lost on Sunday we would still be in that little pack. We need to stay humble, stay focused. Yes, we can look ahead and dream a little bit but we also need to be careful.”
Pushed on his own form of late after quality showings against Liverpool and Spurs, McGinn replied: “I was out of the team for a few games so the challenge is to try and get back in it. You can cry about it or get your head down and do what you do best.
“Every time I play for Villa I give 100% and, whether that is centre mid, up front or right wing, I will do what the manager asks. Thankfully, I am coming on to some better form. Unfortunately I got a wee knock at the end (at Spurs) and, hopefully, it is not too serious. I just felt a pinch in
my hamstring.”
McGinn said it would be “very harsh to compare” Emery with his predecessor Steven Gerrard. It was Gerrard who made him captain at the beginning of the season and, given Villa’s poor start, he lost his job.
“As a midfield player the things I learned off Steven Gerrard were priceless.
“He has experiences and information which were so priceless and valuable for a player like me especially,’’ said McGinn.
“There are a lot of us, myself included, who did not perform under his tenure. It would be very harsh to compare.”
Asked if it was more physically demanding under the new boss, McGinn added: “No. There is no difference there. In this league, the moment you cut corners and don’t do that running is when you are punished.
“That has been our downfall over the years, which has probably stopped us progressing the way we wanted.
“You need to do your hard yards. If you do, you get your rewards.”
Meanwhile, Emiliano Buendia says he must start scoring more goals after notching just his second of the season in Villa’s fine away win at Tottenham on New Year’s Day.
The Argentinian slotted home five minutes after the restart to put Villa ahead after he was picked out brilliantly by Ollie Watkins.
Buendia’s strike was only his sixth in 56 appearances since becoming Villa’s £33 million record signing in the summer of 2020. Looking ahead to 2023, he said: “Scoring goals and getting assists is something I have to improve and I try to arrive more in the opponents’ box.
“Against Tottenham, I followed Ollie and he followed the rebound very well, I was behind him. He passed to me and I could score. I’m really happy to help the team and, with the win, it’s an unbelievable feeling to start 2023.”