John McGinn exclusive: How Unai Emery has 'educated' Aston Villa fans to a new way of playing

John McGinn has admitted Aston Villa need to "adapt" to being treated with more respect by their opponents.

Villa have thrived under manager Unai Emery, rocketing up to fourth in the Premier League. They are currently just eight points behind leaders Liverpool.

The team are also into the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa Conference League, with their mouth-watering last 16 encounter against Ajax set to be shown live on TNT Sports and discovery+ on Thursday.

McGinn explained how heavyweight teams were now changing their approach to matches against Villa.

"That’s something we’ve had to adapt a lot more to," he told TNT Sports' Between The Lines. "I don't think we've quite gotten there yet. I think the last few games we've struggled to get into a rhythm, but it’s something we're working on.

"Previously, when the manager [Emery] came in, teams were coming at us, there was much more space. But now teams maybe won’t push us, and then how do you break that down? So it's a new challenge, but an exciting one."

McGinn added: "Aston Villa is a demanding place to play, Villa Park especially. For years, they’ve had successful teams at home, attacking constantly.

"The manager brought in a certain style at the start – they were moaning and groaning a bit, the supporters. And I think he's educated them a little bit, this is the way we need to be if we're going to be successful. To be fair, everyone has bought into it."

Emery was appointed Villa manager in October 2022, replacing the sacked Steven Gerrard.

The team had won just two of their first 11 matches of the season and were dangerously near the relegation zone.

McGinn admitted he was not playing well during this period and thought he was "done" when Emery took over.

"You kind of have a feeling as a player, at the time the supporters thought I was honking, I had just come out of the team and the team was doing well for a couple of games," he said.

"You’re not stupid as a footballer, you think 'right, you might start having to look elsewhere', which I did."

McGinn had a conversation with Emery, who asked him why he was scoring goals for Scotland but not Villa.

This led to Emery playing McGinn higher up the pitch and he has since become a crucial part of the Villa team, hitting six goals in the Premier League this season.

McGinn credited Emery with teaching him to be calmer on the ball, encouraging him to watch clips of Villarreal midfielder Manu Trigueros.

"I think I know him inside out now," McGinn joked. "He was a big player for Villarreal under the manager, and spent a lot of time with an individual coach.

"He was playing a lot of through balls and said the manager used to hate him for it, but he played them every game, because he was trying to understand the system. He was flexible. Sometimes Trigueros would play as a six, or wide, or upfront."

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