John McGinn has labelled Paris Saint-Germain the toughest side he’s ever faced following Aston Villa’s thrilling but heartbreaking Champions League exit on Tuesday night at Villa Park.
Villa nearly pulled off one of the competition's greatest comebacks, clawing their way back from a 5-1 aggregate deficit to almost force extra-time in a dramatic second-leg showdown.
Trailing 3-1 from the first leg, Villa found themselves 5-1 down on aggregate within the opening half-hour after quickfire goals from Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes. But McGinn — ever the driving force — helped engineer a remarkable turnaround.
“Obvious disappointment but I am proud of my teammates, proud of the club,” McGinn told reporters post-match. “We have come a long way. We were so, so close tonight."
“We just fell a little bit short. We had chances to take the game to extra-time but we've got to be proud about the way we came back against one of the best teams in the world, to fight to the end."
“We want more. We want to be back here next season and we will try our best to do that.”
Villa's Comeback Falls Just Short
Youri Tielemans sparked hope with a goal just before the break, and McGinn himself brought the second leg level with a confident strike from the edge of the box.
On-loan Marcus Rashford then danced past defenders to assist Ezri Konsa, who made it 3-2 on the night. That left Villa needing just one more goal to send the game to extra time — but despite several late chances, including a stoppage-time effort cleared off the line, PSG held on to win 5-4 on aggregate.
McGinn praised Unai Emery’s half-time message for inspiring the fightback.
“He said 'I'm proud of the performance, keep going, you just never know'. We never gave up. It was chaos, but we gave absolutely everything and I think every Aston Villa supporter will leave with a huge sense of pride.”
McGinn: PSG Are The Best I’ve Faced
When asked how PSG compare to other elite opposition, the 30-year-old was quick to respond.
“I've never played against Real Madrid or Barcelona, but in my career they're the best team I have faced,” McGinn admitted.
“I'm getting old and I certainly wouldn't like to play against them every week.”
While the result was painful, Villa’s quarter-final run marks a huge step forward in their European resurgence — and McGinn made clear the squad’s ambition to turn this into the norm.
John McGinn vs PSG (Home Leg – Champions League 2025)
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Minutes Played | 90 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Shots on Target | 2 |
| Key Passes | 3 |
| Pass Accuracy | 87% |
| Duels Won | 9 |
| Tackles | 4 |
| Touches | 73 |
John McGinn was instrumental in Aston Villa’s spirited performance, showcasing his typical work rate, pressing intensity, and goal-scoring threat. His first-half strike helped shift momentum, while his leadership and defensive effort were vital in nearly forcing extra-time against one of Europe’s elite. It was a captain’s display in everything but the armband.
Do you agree with John McGinn — is this PSG side the toughest in Europe right now?
What was your favourite moment from Villa’s Champions League run?
1 Comment (last comment by Adem)
First read message
By Adem 16 Apr 2025 10:20
What a game, didn't expect that outcome, well done to Villa. Unfortunately, but I do agree. PSG are the best in the CL this season, they play phenomenal and probably the one to lift the trophy.
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