John McGinn, the driving force behind Aston Villa’s revival

As Aston Villa gear up for a crucial Europa League clash at Feyenoord on Oct 2, one player stands out as the linchpin capable of steering the team through this high-stakes encounter – captain John McGinn.

The 30-year-old Scottish midfielder has emerged as the heartbeat of a Villa side clawing their way back from a disastrous start to their 2025-26 season. 

With two goals in his last two matches – a 1-0 win over Bologna in their Europa League opener and the 3-1 English Premier League win over Fulham last weekend – McGinn’s blend of grit, leadership, and clutch performances makes him the player in the spotlight.

His ability to turn games, inspire teammates and embody Villa’s fight to turn things around positions him as the central figure in this European showdown, while manager Unai Emery will also hope that the player’s consistency will persist for the rest of the season.

Villa’s campaign began in turmoil, a stark contrast to the highs of their fourth-place finish in 2023-24 and Champions League qualification. 

The first five league games yielded no win, with only a single goal scored, exposing a lack of attacking cohesion and defensive vulnerabilities. A humiliating 3-0 home loss to Crystal Palace at the end of August left fans reeling, while a League Cup exit to Brentford on penalties deepened the gloom.

Emery did not mince his words, labelling his squad “lazy” after a frustrating 1-1 draw at 10-man Sunderland, a match that underscored the impact of a disrupted summer transfer window, where Villa spent less than all of their Premier League rivals owing to financial fair play constraints.

But amid the chaos, McGinn refused to let excuses define the team’s narrative.

After a 1-0 defeat by Brentford early in the season, he candidly remarked: “We aren’t creating clear chances, we’re not opening up teams and players are not playing at their best.” 

He followed this with a rallying cry on social media: “A rough start to the season that we are working hard to put right. This can only be done by becoming stronger and together as one!”

Those were not just words – they were a prelude to his on-pitch heroics that would spark Villa’s resurgence. The turning point arrived in their Europa League opener against Bologna on Sept 25, when his 13th-minute screamer from 20 metres secured a gritty 1-0 win at Villa Park.

Apart from that, he won key duels and set the tone with his relentless pressing against the robust Italian side. Speaking to TNT Sports post-match, McGinn captured the mood: “It was important to get a win at home. Not our strongest start to the season, especially here. We probably could have made it a little more comfortable in the first half. They are a good team, come and play man for man.”

This was not a one-off. It was him addressing Villa’s earlier admission of being “too easy to play against” – a flaw he has worked tirelessly to correct.

That momentum carried into the Fulham match.

Trailing early to Raul Jimenez’s third-minute header, Villa equalised through Ollie Watkins’ clever lob in the 37th minute. But it was the skipper himself who stole the show, unleashing a venomous left-footed strike from outside the box in the 49th minute, the ball clipping the post en route to the net. 

Emiliano Buendia’s goal two minutes later sealed the 3-1 win, but McGinn’s strike – his second in four days – earned him plaudits and lifted Villa to 16th with their first league win this term. 

His resilience shone through despite physical setbacks, as he revealed to BBC’s Match of the Day: “I considered coming off at half-time because I couldn’t run properly. It was my own fault, I fouled (Joachim) Andersen in the corner and got a whack. But I stayed on and played through the pain barrier.”

Emery lauded his captain’s impact, noting how McGinn “got his teammates on his back” to shift the game’s momentum.

McGinn’s influence as captain, a role he has held since 2022 under Steven Gerrard, extends far beyond his goals. Taking the armband after Jack Grealish’s departure, he has guided Villa from the Championship to European contention, including a Champions League quarter-final last season.

His leadership is understated but powerful, fostering unity in a squad rocked by early-season criticism.

Teammate Ezri Konsa dismissed talk of “crisis meetings”, saying: “We have a great captain in John McGinn, who really takes the lead in stuff like that.”

McGinn’s vocal presence organises the midfield, while his tireless work rate sets the tone. When the Scot fires, Villa’s press sharpens, transitions quicken, and the team find their rhythm.

Against Feyenoord, his box-to-box dynamism could be crucial to exploiting gaps, while his ability to intercept and transition quickly may also be a key factor when it comes to countering a pacey Dutch side at home.

And while his teammates all look up to him, McGinn stays grounded.

“We’re not getting carried away,” he said after the win over Fulham. “It’s about recovering now and then back here next Sunday (against Burnley in the Premier League) to try and pick up another win.”

With a daunting fixture list looming – Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Liverpool await – McGinn’s ability to rally his side is pivotal.

In Rotterdam, expect the Scot to lead by example, his warrior spirit and knack for the spectacular making him the player to watch as Villa aim to build on their new-found momentum.