Aston Villa captain John McGinn has lauded manager Unai Emery for leading the English Premier League team to the final game of the 2025-2026 Europa League season.
Emery, who has won the title four times in his careers as a coach- three times with Sevilla, once with Villarreal- will lead a team out in the competition’s final for the sixth time after aiding Arsenal to the 2019 final during his time at the Emirates Stadium.
After orchestrating Villa’s qualification via a 4-0 spanking of fellow EPL side Nottingham Forest in the second leg of their semifinal clash (4-1 on aggregate), McGinn (who scored twice in the win) commended Emery’s influence on the team.
“He’s experienced a lot more European semi-finals than us. He’s been amazing…taught me how to be a leader. You see the guys in 1982 (Champions League winners), the cup winners in the 90s.”
“The club’s been through some massive lows, but such a massive group deserves success. Hopefully we’ll be the ones to bring it” McGinn said to TNT Sports after the game.
Villa will take on German side SC Freiburg in the final on May 20.
