Steven Gerrard has explained how he believes captain John McGinn has been ‘trying a little bit too hard’. The Scottish star was named Gerrard’s full-time Aston Villa captain on the eve of the season having replaced Tyrone Mings as skipper. However, Villa fans are yet to see McGinn at his brilliant best with the 27-year-old being taken off in each of Villa’s last four encounters. Last season, McGinn was substituted just three times throughout the whole of the 2021/22 campaign, such was his form and importance in the middle of the park. BirminghamLive quizzed the manager on how McGinn has taken the captaincy to date and if he remains the life and soul of Bodymoor Heath.
Steven Gerrard replied: “He hasn’t changed and I haven’t expected him to change. I think he’s maybe been trying too hard, if you like, which we thought would happen. He’s had the captaincy individually on a few occasions and we felt his performances were that he was trying too desperately. That’s not a fault, that’s John McGinn. I think that’s a real positive about him but it’ll take time.”
McGinn will look to lead Villa to a much-needed win against Southampton on Friday night before linking up with Scotland for their triple-header against Ukraine twice and the Republic of Ireland. Gerrard, meanwhile, has full faith that McGinn – who’s been directly involved in seven goals in his previous 10 Scotland caps – can return back to “his real strong best”.
Steven Gerrard added: “He’ll come and get back to his real strong best. I think out of possession he’s been outstanding for us but he’s just trying a little bit too hard. We’ve spoken to him about it and I have no doubts that he’ll be fine. He’s been fine in certain games and in certain moments this season.”
Elsewhere, another player desperately looking to find some form is summer arrival Philippe Coutinho. The 30-year-old has been left out of the latest Brazil squad for the first time in 11 months while, at Villa, he’s failed to start the last two games having lost his place to the likes of Jacob Ramsey and Leon Bailey. However, back at base this week, Champions League winner Coutinho has been “the top performer by some distance” with the South American desperate to return to the player that lit up Villa Park during the early weeks of his loan spell.
Steven Gerrard said: “He has had his strongest week this week. I think that is a combination of coming out of our team and coming out of the Brazil squad. Knowing what is inside Phil – the character, the man, the player – I think he is rolling his sleeves up at the moment and we have seen that in training this week. He has been the top performer by some distance. That is where we need Phil Coutinho because that is when you see the Phil Coutinho that we love.”
