John McGinn admitted that playing as Aston Villa captain in the Europa League final was one of the proudest moments of his career.

John McGinn said that captaining Aston Villa in the Europa League final would be one of the proudest moments of his career. Aston Villa will face Bundesliga side Freiburg in Istanbul for the European title.  

Aston Villa are aiming for their second major European trophy in club history. At the pre-match press conference at Besiktas Park, John McGinn was interviewed and asked if this was the proudest moment of his career as captain.  

In an interview, John McGinn said: "Yes, this is definitely the proudest moment of my time as captain of Aston Villa. It has been a fantastic journey with many ups and downs, including close calls with relegation and even a near return to the Championship. I am proud of where the club is now, and I am also proud of the heights this club can reach in the future, just as the manager said."  

“This is not a moment for us to come here and celebrate wildly; we must focus on the game itself. We know how strong Freiburg is and how difficult it is to reach the final. Therefore, we will give our opponents the respect they deserve and continue to build the club in the right way. But from a personal point of view, after so many years here, this is undoubtedly the proudest moment for me as captain.”  

John McGinn joined Aston Villa in 2018 when the team was still in the Championship. In his first season, he helped the team return to the Premier League through the promotion play-offs, scoring the crucial winning goal at Wembley. He then played a key role in the team's crucial fight to avoid relegation in the final round of the 2019/20 season. In 2022, John McGinn was officially appointed Aston Villa captain.  

The Scottish international has been a key figure in Aston Villa's rise under Unai Emery. Now, the team has not only qualified for the Champions League again but has also reached the Europa League final.  

John McGinn added: “From a personal perspective, this is even more special. If Aston Villa had lost that promotion playoff, they might not be where they are today. The club had just been acquired by Nasser Al-Sériez and Wes Edens, and they continue to support the team to this day.”  

“This journey has been truly incredible. Every player, coach, and staff member has contributed to the club’s development. This is a very important moment. It’s hard to imagine that seven years ago we were still striving for promotion.”  

"Tomorrow, we will see the fans who have supported us all the way from Rotherham and Wigan, traveling with the team on cold nights. They deserve all of this just like the players. Regardless of the result, I hope we can give them an unforgettable night."  

Image source: Internet/Aston Villa official website