Says ‘I dreamt of this moment as a kid’
By Toby TAIWO
John McGinn admitted it was “the proudest moment and night of my career so far” after becoming only the second Aston Villa captain to lift a major European trophy.
The midfielder followed in the footsteps of Dennis Mortimer 44 years ago as Villa celebrated clinching the UEFA Europa League courtesy of an impressive 3-0 victory over Freiburg.
McGinn, surrounded by his jubilant team-mates, each with winners’ medals around their necks, lifted the 15kg silver trophy above his head as the clock passed midnight local time, to ignite claret and blue celebrations and register Villa’s first trophy success for 30 years.
“I can’t believe it, to be honest,” he said, speaking post-match.
“What we’ve been through as a club. This club was on the verge of being in a right bad way seven years ago.
“Nassef (Sawiris) and Wes (Edens) bought the club over, and they had one remit – to get the club back to the Premier League and then try and get it to compete to the levels it had before.
“Tonight was just everything we have built coming together.
“And the pride I felt at 3-0 with 10 minutes to go, thinking we’re European champions, was something I can’t even describe.”
Sublime strikes from Youri Tielemans and Emi Buendía in the space of just seven second-half minutes handed Villa a 2-0 half-time lead.
Morgan Rogers then added a third after the break to put the seal on a memorable night at Beşiktaş Park in Istanbul.
McGinn, alongside Tyrone Mings and Tammy Abraham, became the first players in history to win the Championship play-off final and Europa League with the same club
And the Scotland international spoke of the honour of getting his hands on the European silverware.
“It means a lot,” he added.
