John McGinn Aston Villa
Aston Villa captain John McGinn has opened up about his seven-year tenure at the club, his future aspirations, and his current peak physical condition. Recently signing a contract extension, McGinn is set to remain at Villa Park until 2028, as he aims to lead the club to further success in domestic and European competitions. The midfielder is on the cusp of making his 300th appearance for the club, potentially reaching this milestone in the upcoming Europa League match against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
John McGinn said: “My dad said that to me: ‘What’s up with you?’ I said, well, I’ve hit ‘the big three.’ And everyone gets obsessed with it, but in my career, I always play better when I’ve got a point to prove, and I think now I’m actually in the best condition I’ve been in a long time physically, feeling as fit as ever.”
McGinn added: “I am very close to my agent, who has been with me since the start of my career, David, and he is different from other football agents. He doesn’t just care about the contract, he cares about the person. He cares about what you’re doing off the field and what you’re doing next – your next target. In the summer, we had an honest chat, me and him. He is able to say what he likes to me. I went to America to work with a woman called Natalie, who trains many serious NFL players and UFC players during the off-season to keep them in tip-top shape. Aye, she absolutely beasted me! It was 45-degree heat in Arizona. It was really, really tough. The benefits of that were that I came back in the best shape I’ve been in for a long time.”
McGinn’s leadership has been integral to Aston Villa’s journey from the Championship to the Champions League. Despite the squad’s aging profile, his role remains crucial under manager Unai Emery, who values experienced players. McGinn is not content to rest on his laurels; he is determined to push his limits and continue improving, aiming to etch his name in the club’s history by lifting silverware.
McGinn continued: “I watch my brother and he’s 35. Me and him have very different body shapes. He’s like a stick, skinny as anything, but there’s genuinely no difference from when he was 30 to 35. I’ve not asked him, but he has another two or three years left in him. Here, you look at Victor [Lindelof] and Lucas [Digne], how they go about their business to keep themselves in an amazing condition. I still think mentally is really important, I still feel fresh.”
He also shared: “I am a big kid, so if I never had these things in place, the structure of Mikey in the house every night cooking me healthy food, I would pop to Nando’s every now and again. That has helped me a lot. It keeps me in the best possible condition. I know when I am home every night I am eating a healthy dinner. It helps me recover better and keep in shape.”
McGinn’s commitment to his physical and mental well-being is evident in his daily routine and support system. His focus on maintaining peak condition is matched by his ambition to bring silverware to Villa Park. The captain reflects on past near-misses in cup competitions, acknowledging the lessons learned and the determination to achieve more significant success.
McGinn concluded: “There was one feeling at the start, when I didn’t play in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley against Man City, which was horrible watching. I remember thinking, I want more of that, but our cup runs have been pretty rubbish. Then we get to the semi-final of the Conference League and we lose that. That was number one. Then we get to the semi-final of the FA Cup and lose that. That’s number two. Number three was PSG in the quarter-final. All of these feelings were the exact same for everyone. We know we could have done a bit more.”
As McGinn looks forward to the future, his determination to lead Aston Villa to glory remains unwavering. With his recent contract extension, he is poised to continue his journey with the club, aiming to transform past disappointments into future triumphs.
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