One on One | Villa's McGinn: 'Don't mention the title race!'

0:05Hey everyone, Joe here with a special bonus Christmas episode of the one on one on one podcast. The captain, the leader and ever present since signing from Hibs in 2018. The midfielder scored the winning goal when Villa won the playoff final in his first season with the club. He scored their first goal in their first season back in the top flight. He's seen Champions League nights, played over 300 times for him and recently signed a new contract. Oh, and let's not forget, he's also going to the World Cup with Scotland in 2026. Meanwhile, Villa are in a title race. So yeah, life is pretty good for the midfielder at the top of his game.

0:54So welcome to One on One with John McGinn. McGinn. McGinn!

1:02It's a beauty from John McGinn! John, thanks so much for joining me, man. It's nearly Christmas, not too far away. What does Christmas look like in the McGinn household? Quiet. I've got no kids, so quiet for me. Depends on if we get a day off this year, I might go up and see the nieces and nephews, but pretty quiet. I mean I don't love it, I don't hate Christmas but I don't love it surprisingly. Bit overrated now? Aye. I like seeing the smiles on the kids faces but I would say a wee bit overrated. What's it like as a footballer? Because obviously throughout your career you've played pretty much through every Christmas period, but there's no Boxing Day football this year.

1:41Aye I'm not a fan of that. They need to bring the Boxing Day. I agree. What's going on? You get used to it. everyone goes I train on Christmas Day but you've worked your whole life to train on Christmas Day and play Boxing Day and the biggest games so bring it back and for me bring back the games on the 28th as well I liked that I quite liked the was it the two days we've used to play 26th and 28th but we're wrapped in cotton wool now aren't we you are? but I thought it was good I enjoyed it the games were always freezing exciting under the lights and that's the way you want it as a player you know when you're training Christmas Day does that mean you have Christmas lunch at the training ground usually?

2:19How does it work? No, we've had Christmas lunch the other day. Already? Aye, aye, we had that the other day because the staff have got lives, do you know what I mean? So that's something I've always tried to push, and the other staff are the same. So if we're on Christmas Day, the bread's left out and cereal for your breakfast, and then you eat it at home. So no, the staff will be off Christmas Day, there'll be no Christmas lunch, and I think everyone will be pretty sensible on Christmas Day. Definitely. Last time I was here at Christmas, Ollie Watkins was talking about having lobster on his Christmas dinner.

2:52He's just forgot himself, hasn't he? What is going on? He's forgot himself. What is going on with the world, honestly? Lobster. Anything unusual on yours? Nah, I've got a wee bit more adventurous. What does that mean? Nah, I used to be terrible when I was younger. I used to just be basic, like turkey, roast potatoes, pigs in blankets and gravy, but I'll try another few bits. Then you obviously need to run about in a couple of days so you need to take it easy. but no there's nothing adventurous on my plate but no brussels sprouts what now get it down my estimation is massively down my estimation is massively obviously it's a crazy busy period for you at the moment though and the form is absolutely outrageous i mean do you think this is maybe the best team you've been a part of ever at the moment right now it's certainly up there i mean i think it was two or three years ago we were a win away from finishing christmas at the top of the table and we drew against Sheffield United at home.

3:50We were in great form then. We just beat Arsenal and City at home. But this season's been giving me so much pleasure because we were written off, sort of down and out. We probably had some doubts ourselves, but the way we've come back and put that run together has been amazing. The way we're getting used to playing in Europe, coming back, changing the team a little bit, keeping everyone fresh, I think, this is probably the most enjoyable I've ever had it and hopefully we can keep it going. Obviously 2025 is pretty much wrapped up now, from a personal point of view there's been some massive highs for you, what do you think of 2025 as a year in your career?

4:29Huge, obviously playing in a Champions League quarter final for the first time, scoring via deflection. Just competing at the top end of the Premier League is surreal and then obviously qualifying for the World Cup with Scotland is still not quite sunk in yet. Normally we are, if we're lucky, in a play-off in March so it's quite nice to be looking at the friendlies they're organising and looking forward to the summer but I think it's good for me. I think the whole country is really excited for the summer but I've got so much to look forward to here. Yeah. So it's just about keeping the head down, keeping myself in the best possible shape and being ready for the summer.

5:09Obviously people are saying Villa are in this title race. What's going on behind the scenes in the squad where are you on that no no I'm with the manager I think we operate our best when we're just floating under the radar I mean the start of the season helped us do that because we just slowly kept climbing the table but we're not actually really talking about it we're just kind of we're in this mode at the minute where the games are just coming and coming and we're sneaking a couple of wins we're deserving other wins so it's just about keeping it going and if we manage to sustain it over a length of time then obviously but there's some world-class teams in this league and there's also teams below us who will probably be there or thereabouts by the end of the season.

5:51We're not allowed to talk about it, we won't talk about it and we shouldn't. Fair enough. You mentioned briefly that start of the season to where you are now. What changed? Because it is like a 360 flip there. Well, Morgan's shot swigging over the bar.

6:11but now they're just dipping a wee bit under the bar no no we started really poor we couldn't find a goal yeah and then we started getting closer and closer and then eventually just found our inner form and a resilience like we've been behind so many times and we come back so we've got something in there that you can tell we're fighting till the end the goal against Arsenal was special but I think players finding form I think the start of the season was quite disruptive on a few subjects, but then we started getting our top players into form and we're showing that at the minute. Quedilla wins it for Aston Villa with the final kick of the game!

6:57You mentioned Morgan there, they're flying in right now. He is just on fire, isn't he? He's cheating, isn't it? Because he's got a Puma deal. So he got an experience of the ball before we did. But he's a top player and he's getting better and better. And that's the lucky thing for us. He's just signed a contract. He's only 23. Big character in the dressing room. And he's won a few games for us over the last few. So long make continue. Hopefully by the time the end of the season comes, they keep dipping under the bar. Martílemans has sighted across and it's come to Morgan Rodgers! He is the man!

7:35And his is the moment! Embraced by the Holteng! Well it's Manchester United against Morgan Rodgers and Morgan Rodgers is winning. Yeah obviously you are captain, you've been here for such a long time. You know you've seen so many talented players at this club. Where does Morgan rank in the most talented, naturally players you've seen? If you ask me in August, I'd have a different answer. No, definitely. I think it's the whole package, really, in terms of strength, pace, power. But not only that, he's got the ability to match it. I think the manager spotted it early when people were claiming what we were doing.

8:18Signing him, the manager spotted it. But not only that, the England managers put a lot of faith in him. it's very easy to pick the big names from the so-called big clubs but we're a big club as well competing amongst it so what he brings both on and off the pitch he's funny because he's always involved in the arguments and he's stubborn, very very stubborn so me and him we clash in arguments sometimes but nothing bad, we're good mates and it's obviously great to see him flourish I mean there's a couple of I think the league's most underrated players in this Villa side yourself being one of them but also I think Esri Consa we're speaking about England just there I don't think Esri Consa gets nearly enough love in this league as being one of the best centre backs in it Aye but hopefully that stays the same for us Hopefully it stays here for a long time but Esri has been under the radar for many years he's been performing like this for years Yeah I think you ask any striker that plays against him he's quick he's strong good in the ball aggressive he's got everything you need to be a top centre-back and like I said earlier with Morgan Thomas Tuchel obviously has noticed that and he's pretty much first choice centre-back at the moment for England so he's a big leader in character in the dressing room and certainly one of the best defenders I've ever played with so he's not underrated in there the same way Buba Kamara when you read the France squad when I see it come out I'm going right, surely Buba, surely but it never seems to get picked So we're lucky to have players like that in the dressing room and we're all kind of clucking together at the moment.

9:54Yeah, obviously you mentioned the World Cup a little bit there. Let's just go back to that Scotland moment, shall we? I mean, what were the scenes like after the game there in the changing room? Well, no idea because I was in the drugs test. Oh, yeah. Oh, no. No, but the Premier League, when you get a drug test in the Premier League, you can be in the changing room, but you just need to make sure that you're not cheating the test. Someone follows you, watches you do the toilet, watches you show up. they must find it quite weird but UEFA you can't go in the changing room so I could do an interview obviously but I could do an interview but not go in the changing room so you could just hear the celebrations in the distance I couldn't I was in there actually with Lauren Shanklin to Mikil Damsgaard and Rasmus Hoyland so it's a strange feeling because obviously two guys I've played against so I don't know them but I know them to say hello to they're obviously devastated we are buzzing and yeah wanting to talk to Lawrence about it, but you don't want to be disrespectful.

10:49But no, they were really good. They said they were the best and hopefully we'll get through this as quickly as possible. But I was quite late and then eventually caught up with the party and it was good. And obviously it's going to be a big party next year in the US. I mean, the Scottish fans' takeover of America next season is going to be a sight to behold, isn't it? Yeah, I'm not sure about the kilts in the heat of Miami, but I'm sure they'll give it a bash. bit of sunburn it's just amazing to give everyone that lift not only the people who are travelling but the lift that will give the country back home everyone watching late at night just inspiring the kids to go and hopefully be the next generation of Scottish players at a World Cup yeah absolutely what did you think of the group when it came out we were watching it in here actually it was funny because obviously a few of the boys were watching interested and I was shouting that it was cheating the fact that the teams kept getting pulled up but they couldn't go in Brazil and Morocco's group So then we obviously got pulled out and all the boys started celebrating.

11:50But for us to be involved in big games like that, it's amazing. It's just a great feeling to watch the draw and know that we are not playoff path A or playoff path F. We are Scotland and we're in there and they're on merit. So it was amazing and the boys are winding me up saying we won't score a goal. So we'll see. I think Scott McTominay may have something to say about that. Scott Metomine against the Brazilians has there ever been a more nailed on goal scorer? He's a better athlete than him I reckon he's seriously going to do some damage at the World Cup Scott isn't he? I hope so I'm watching the games and then saying make sure he doesn't get injured but he's just kicked on just gone to another level since he went to Napoli and for us he just can't miss so it's great to have him and we've also got another few players coming through obviously Ben Doak if he gets back fit, he's had some great games for Scotland.

12:44So I'll be watching at the corner of my eye, but the manager here will make sure I'm focused here. Yeah, absolutely. Obviously, we are now going into 2026. What do you hope 2026 looks like for you from a personal point of view and for Villa and for Scotland? Hopefully eclipse this year. More goals, more games. I don't know, just try and build on it, just try and achieve something that I haven't done before and this club haven't done before. I think we know the supporters, the club, everyone's craving a trophy. We watched Newcastle and Tottenham do it last year and you picture being involved in that.

13:17So if at the end of 26 I've achieved that, I can definitely go away happy. You can enter the top 10 Villa appearance makers in history this season as well, by the way. I don't know that. Yeah, you are really, really close. By the end of the season you probably will be in it. I mean, that's crazy. That's a bit mad, eh? I know Gareth Barry's at the top. I see him sometimes we don't live too far away from each other but I'm not sure I'm fit enough to catch him so a trophy potentially into the top 10 and for Scotland what's the aim there? World Cup final World Cup final Guinea top man thank you we recorded that podcast just before Aston Villa beat Manchester United to maintain their title race credentials and I thought John McGinn was yet again brilliant in the game and how pointed were some of his comments Morgan Rodgers' shots have started going under the bar they absolutely have another couple of goals for him on the night and why shouldn't Aston Villa fans be dreaming of a title race on Christmas day they are well and truly in the mix well that's it for this Christmas Eve edition of one-on-one if you want to watch the interview you can of course find it across Sky Sports one-on-one is going to be taking a break for a couple of weeks but we'll be back in 2026 with more interviews with Premier League stars so for now.

14:32Thanks for listening to us for the season and Merry Christmas.

14:49Hi there, it's Damesh Sheth from the Sunday Supplement Podcast. Every week I'll be joined by some of the UK's top sports journalists to go beyond the headlines and unpick the big stories. Catch us every Sunday live on Sky Sports News between 9 and 11am with the podcast dropping as soon as we come off air. So if you don't already, give Sunday Supplement a follow wherever you get your podcasts and I'll see you on Sunday mornings.