MCGINN KEY FOR MUDDLING VILLA

As Aston Villa gear up for a crucial Europa League clash at Feyenoord on Oct 2, one player stands out as the linchpin capable of steering the team through this high-stakes encounter — captain John McGinn.

- Andy Ng Correspondent

The 30-year-old Scottish midfielder has emerged as the heartbeat of a Villa side clawing their way back from a disastrous start to their 2025-26 season.

With two goals in his last two matches-a1-O win over Bologna in their Europa League opener and the 3-1 English Premier League win over Fulham last weekend - McGinn's blend of grit, leadership, and clutch performances makes him the player in the spotlight.

His ability to turn games, inspire teammates and embody Villa's fight to turn things around positions him as the central figure in this European showdown, while manager Unai Emery will also hope that the player's consistency will persist for the rest of the season.

Villa's campaign began in turmoil, a stark contrast to the highs of their fourth-place finish in 2023-24 and Champions League qualification.

The first five league games yielded no win, with only a single goal scored, exposing a lack of attacking cohesion and defensive vulnerabilities. A humiliating 3-0 home loss to Crystal Palace at the end of August left fans reeling, while a League Cup exit to Brentford on penalties deepened the gloom.

Emery did not mince his words, labelling his squad "lazy" after a frustrating 1-1 draw at 10-man Sun-derland, a match that underscored the impact of a disrupted summer transfer window, where Villa spent less than all of their Premier League rivals owing to financial fair play constraints.

But amid the chaos, McGinn refused to let excuses define the team's narrative.