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Aston Villa Driven by past Failures in Pursuit of Major Trophy
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Aston Villa captain John McGinn has emphasized the team’s determination to surpass previous semi-final and quarter-final exits in European competitions, fueled by a desire to prove their worth and silence lingering doubts.
Recent European Campaigns and the Drive for More
Aston Villa’s recent performances in European competitions, specifically their runs in the 2023-2024 UEFA Europa Conference League and Champions League, have served as motivation for the squad. While reaching the semi-finals of the Conference League and the quarter-finals of the Champions League were significant achievements, McGinn believes the team is capable of going further.
“The semi-final in the Conference League and Champions League quarter-final, they were big nights for us, big moments in which we haven’t delivered,” McGinn stated to reporters, as reported by ESPN on April 28, 2024.
A Desire to Prove Their Worth
McGinn articulated a growing sense of determination within the team to demonstrate their ability to compete for and win major trophies. He feels the current squad, built over the past five to six years, deserves to progress beyond the latter stages of European tournaments.
“Every time we go into a big game now, we have that determination in the back of our heads to prove this team we have built over the past five or six years is worth more than a quarter-final, worth more than a semi-final,” McGinn explained. he added, “The determination, I can feel it this year. I can feel we want to prove a point. I think until we do that, there will always be questions asked.”
As captain, McGinn acknowledges the added pressure he feels to lead the team to success, but believes that achieving a significant trophy will amplify the positive emotions and validate their efforts.
Aston Villa’s Recent Performance in European Competitions (2023-2024)
| Competition | Stage Reached | Result |
|---|---|---|
| UEFA Europa conference League | Semi-Final | Lost to Olympiacos 2-0 on aggregate |
| UEFA Champions League | Quarter-Final | Lost to Manchester City 4-1 on aggregate |
Data sourced from UEFA Official Website and UEFA europa Conference League Official Website.
