McGinn reflects on Tottenham triumph

FixturesTottenham Hotspur Vs. Aston Villa - Sat, Sep 19 2026, 12:30John McGinn cut a delighted figure after Aston Villa clinched all three points at Tottenham Hotspur. The Villa captain admitted “it’s a relief” but we “deserved our win” after helping secure a 3-2 triumph in north London – our first Premier League victory of the campaign. Johan Manzambi, Nicolas Jackson and Emi Buendía put the visitors in a commanding position before Spurs launched a late comeback, but the Villans claimed the spoils. And, speaking post-match, McGinn was asked about how well organised Villa already appear under Unai Emery following a summer of comings and goings in the squad. “It's more off the pitch meetings and a lot of deliberate movements,” said the midfielder. “To be honest, it was really frustrating in the first half because, normally, we're a lot more organised than what we were – throw-ins, set-pieces, we were a little bit ragged. “Before the game, he (Unai) spoke to us in detail about what he wanted, how we could maybe exploit some space. “And I think with Nicolas Jackson's goal, he'll be delighted because we've worked on that quite a lot before it. “But he's been great, he’s been really calm. “He's just determined to get us back to where we were with a new group of players.”Manzambi, making his full debut, and Jackson registered their first league goals in claret and blue at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. In fact, Manzambi, 20, became just the second Villa player to both score and assist in a maiden Premier League start after Kevin Phillips against Bolton Wanderers in August 2005. And McGinn spoke out the important role he and the longer-serving players at the club have to help the new arrivals settle into our style of play and structure, with Villa having experienced the first five league matches of last season without a win. “You can easily say that now after three points, but you start to think ‘are the new players believing in what's made us successful over the past few years?’,” he said. “So that's where myself, Tyrone, Cashy, Emi, we become important because this is our way. This is how we compete with the big boys. “And the new guys are buying into it. “It's taking them time, but it took Youri time, it took Lucas Digne time. “It's not easy, but it's rewarding. And if we need to play a certain way to get points, I wouldn't change it for the world.”