John McGinn Aston Villa
Aston Villa captain John McGinn has made a significant impact since his return from a knee injury, scoring in consecutive matches against Lille and West Ham. McGinn’s return has been instrumental in Aston Villa’s recent success, marking their first back-to-back home wins since January. The midfielder’s performance has been a key factor in the team’s strong form, with only Ashley Young surpassing McGinn’s tally of Premier League goals from outside the box for Villa.
Unai Emery said: “John McGinn, his challenge is to add numbers. Two years ago I told him at the beginning of the season, if you add numbers this season, 10 goals and 10 assists, we can achieve our objective. This year is something similar. He is adding numbers and with those numbers we can keep the position we are in now.”
John McGinn said: “The manager touched on that a couple of seasons ago when we finished fourth that Douglas got 10 goals. That’s been my aim for a few seasons. I never used to, but the manager sets targets for the forward players. I feel a little bit hard-done-by because sometimes he pushes me back and forgets that! I want to target 10 goals because I haven’t managed to do that yet, so hopefully this year is the year. It is up to us as forward players and wide players to take the pressure off Ollie.”
Unai Emery said: “McGinn is versatile. He played fantastic on the left side during the season. Morgan, he is a versatile player as well. Sometimes he achieves his good performance inside and outside. He played a fantastic game today. Even sometimes he can play on the right side, and he performs fantastic there. His mentality is the most important. If he keeps it, and I speak to him about being in different positions, he does not refuse.”
McGinn’s versatility on the field has been a crucial asset for manager Unai Emery, who values the ability of players like McGinn and Morgan Rogers to adapt to various positions. This flexibility has allowed Emery to deploy them effectively across different areas of the pitch, enhancing the team’s overall performance. McGinn’s recent goal against West Ham not only set the tone for Villa’s victory but also underscored his growing influence within the squad. As McGinn continues to target a personal milestone of 10 goals, his contributions are expected to play a pivotal role in Aston Villa’s pursuit of their season objectives.
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