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John McGinn Believes Aston Villa Can Aim Higher as They Prepare for UEFA Super Cup Against PSG

John McGinn, captain of Aston Villa, insists the team has no limits, even after losing several key players. The Premier League side is set to face Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup final, where manager Unai Emery hopes to break his own streak of near misses in this competition.

A Rematch Against PSG

The upcoming match is a rerun of the 2024-25 Champions League quarter-final clash, where Villa narrowly lost 5-4 on aggregate. That tie showed Villa could challenge Europe's elite, highlighted by their spirited 3-2 win at Villa Park. Yet, the squad Emery will use in Salzburg looks quite different from the one that nearly upset PSG less than two years ago.

  • Morgan Rogers, Lucas Digne, and Youri Tielemans have departed.
  • Midfielder Amadou Onana remains sidelined with a long-term injury.
  • Stars like Emi Martinez, Ezri Konsa, and Ollie Watkins are on extended leave after their World Cup appearances.

This leaves Emery with tough decisions, as only four starters from that famous night in Birmingham are expected to start in Austria.

McGinn Embraces the Challenge

Despite the overhaul, McGinn stays positive about Villa’s progress. Having been with the club for eight years, he has witnessed its rise from Championship struggles to Champions League competitors. He enjoys the underdog role and welcomes the chance to prove skeptics wrong once more.

"A lot has changed in the eight years I have been here," McGinn said. "When you sign the best young English talent and players perform at the highest level, there will be interest. We have a structure, standards, and rules that made us successful. I'm really excited about the new Aston Villa."
"We have our core group, the same manager, methods, and desire to achieve more. Many thought we hit a ceiling a couple of seasons ago, but we proved them wrong."

Emery Eyes History with Support from McGinn

McGinn doesn't hold back when it comes to locker room banter, even teasing Emery about his past record in the Super Cup. Emery, who recently won his fifth Europa League title by leading Villa to a historic victory over Freiburg, still hasn't secured the Super Cup trophy.

"He (pointing to McGinn) reminded me last week about losing to Chelsea," Emery shared. "This is an opportunity. Winning a trophy gives us a special moment. Playing for trophies is our goal as professionals. PSG are favorites, but I'm excited to see how we test ourselves against them. For me as coach, player, and for the club, it's a trophy that makes us proud to be here."

New Challenges Ahead

The task in Salzburg is tougher because Villa's lineup has changed dramatically since their last meeting with PSG. With only four players expected to start who featured in the previous quarter-final, Emery must adapt quickly. The return of Boubacar Kamara to the squad offers some hope, even though he's still regaining fitness after a serious knee injury.

With over 6,000 supporters traveling to Austria, the atmosphere is ready for Villa to challenge PSG and give Emery his elusive Super Cup triumph.

  • UEFA Super Cup Final: Aston Villa vs Paris Saint-Germain
  • Date and Time: 12 August 2026, 21:00
  • Venue: Salzburg

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