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John McGinn: Aston Villa Has No Limits as They Eye UEFA Super Cup Triumph Over PSG

John McGinn, captain of Aston Villa, is convinced the club has no limits despite losing several key players recently. The Premier League team is preparing to face Paris Saint-Germain, champions of the Champions League, in the UEFA Super Cup final in Salzburg. Manager Unai Emery aims to overcome his previous setbacks in this competition.

A New-look Villa Meets PSG Again

This upcoming match revisits their 2024-25 Champions League quarter-final duel, where Villa proved they could challenge Europe’s elite. Although they lost 5-4 on aggregate, a spirited 3-2 win at Villa Park sent a strong message across the continent. The squad for Wednesday’s final, however, looks quite different from the one that pushed PSG to the edge less than two years ago.

  • Departed Players: Morgan Rogers, Lucas Digne, Youri Tielemans
  • Injured: Amadou Onana (long-term)
  • On Leave: Emi Martinez, Ezri Konsa, Ollie Watkins (post-World Cup rest)

Emery faces selection challenges with only four starters from that famous night likely to start against PSG in Austria.

McGinn Embraces Change and Challenges

Having been at the club for eight years, McGinn has witnessed Aston Villa's rise from Championship struggles to Champions League contenders. He welcomes the underdog role and is eager to prove doubters wrong on this grand stage.

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

McGinn Spurs Emery as He Seeks First Super Cup Win

McGinn enjoys some dressing room banter, especially when it involves reminding Emery of his past near-misses. Emery, who recently won his fifth Europa League title after leading Villa to a historic victory over Freiburg, still sees the Super Cup as elusive.

"He (McGinn) was reminding me last week about losing to Chelsea," Emery shared. "Of course, it is an opportunity. A trophy gives us a special moment. Playing for trophies is our objective as professionals. PSG are favorites but I’m eager to test ourselves against them."
"This trophy makes us proud of how far we’ve come and how we arrived here."

Squad Changes Add Complexity But Also Hope

Villa’s transformation since their last clash with PSG means many fresh faces will feature in Salzburg. Still, the return of Boubacar Kamara after recovering from a serious knee injury brings optimism. Over 6,000 Villa supporters have traveled to Austria, setting the scene for Emery to capture the trophy that has eluded him so far.

  • Match: UEFA Super Cup
  • Date & Time: 12 August 2026, 21:00
  • Teams: Aston Villa vs Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)

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