I've seen my mates Jack Grealish and Andy Robertson win European trophies, now it's my turn - John McGinn after 'incredible' Europa League win

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John McGinn described Aston Villa's 3-0 victory during the UEFA Europa League final against Freiberg as "the proudest night of his career".

Super John McGinn! Villa captain’s must-watch interview after lifting Europa League trophy

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It went just about as well as a European final could for Unai Emery's side on the banks of the Bosphorus.

The heroes of 1982 in Rotterdam have some European company, as Darren Fletcher said on commentary duty for TNT Sports. Just like that night, 44 years ago, Villa were in all white as they defeated Bayern Munich to lift the European Cup.

But Istanbul was painted claret and blue by players who have been through tough periods at the club. Ezri Konsa's journey was started seven years ago by Dean Smith following promotion back to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs.

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McGinn has been at the club even longer, having been signed by Steve Bruce a year earlier. The Scotland international is the darling of the Holte End, having gone from a boy to a man in the Midlands.

"I can't believe it to be honest," McGinn told TNT Sports. "What we've been through as a club, this club was close to being in a right bad way seven years ago. V Sports bought it, and their one remit was to get it back to the Premier League - and back to the levels of before.

"Tonight was everything we built coming together. The pride I felt with 10 minutes to go knowing we were about to be champions - I can't describe it. It means a lot. As a kid growing up, I remember Celtic in 2003.

Highlights: Villa claim Europa League crown to create new chapter in club’s history

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"It wasn't a great night for them, but it was special. I was lucky enough to go to the final at Hampden in 2007. To be here, in 2026, as captain of Aston Villa is incredible. It's the proudest night of my career.

"I'll try to enjoy it. I like to party, but I'll take it easy to try and soak it all in.

"Being 31, in my first European final, I've seen my mates [Jack] Grealish and [Andy] Robertson win. It's my turn. It's so special, I'll cherish every minute."

The resounding victory got the royal seal of approval from Prince William, the lifelong Villa supporter in attendance at Besiktas' home ground, who even spared a thought for the injured Boubacar Kamara - and McGinn was quick to jokingly call on the Prince of Wales to mark the historic moment in style.

"Hopefully, that means it's a free bar!" McGinn added. "He's a classy guy, as he was in the dressing room before the game. He's a massive Villa fan, so he was never going to miss it.

"It's great to have his support, and he's just a normal guy. Hopefully, he can have a couple of drinks with us and maybe get his credit card out at the end of the night!"

'His statue might be next to Unai's' - Hargreaves on 'remarkable' McGinn

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Tielemans reveals secret to sublime opener

Youri Tielemans revealed he only had one training session to work on the corner-kick routine which led to Aston Villa's superb opening goal.

In truth, not a lot was happening for the best part of 40 minutes during a cagey first half, but the Europa League contest exploded into life on the stroke of half-time.

Tielemans' rasping volley from Morgan Rogers' cleverly-worked set-piece lit the blue touch paper, before Emi Buendia arguably trumped his team-mate with an even better strike, curling his left-footed shot into the top corner in first-half stoppage time.

Buendia then turned provider for Rogers, whose predatory finish at the near post on the hour all but ended Freiburg's attempts at winning a first major European trophy.

Villa set-piece coach Austin MacPhee has developed a reputation for devising innovative ways of scoring from dead-ball situations, and Tielemans' sweet finish arrived after good work from Pau Torres and Konsa in acting as blockers to create space on the edge of the box.

'Into the net like a rocket' - Tielemans gives Villa lead with 'sensational' volley

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Tielemans said: "I feel amazing. My voice is a bit gone, but it's all good. We put in a shift, top performance. We had a great season, to top it off with this, it's amazing."

On the routine by which he scored his opening goal, the Belgium midfielder admitted: "We only had one day to practice. We did it on Monday, and it went brilliantly tonight. So happy.

"It's amazing. It's been a season with a lot of ups and downs. We started so, so bad. Our standards were very poor. The way we turned things around was a credit to the players and staff. We kept working, believing. We got the win in the end, Champions League next season, and a trophy.

"The fans have been amazing. All game long we could only hear them. Credit to them. Up the Villa!"

The result will be of interest to the likes of Brighton and Bournemouth, who know that finishing sixth in the Premier League - provided Villa lose at Manchester City and Liverpool beat Brentford at Anfield - will mean Champions League football next season.

'Get the statue ready' - Hargreaves says Emery needs honoured for 'remarkable' job

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But Wednesday night was all about Aston Villa, 30 years on from their last trophy success in the League Cup against Leeds United. That afternoon at Wembley also finished with a 3-0 scoreline.

For Savo Milosevic, Ian Taylor and Dwight Yorke read Tielemans, Buendia and Rogers.

Brian Little was in charge in 1996 and since then, Villa have had 14 different permanent managers, spent three seasons in the Championship, lost two FA Cup finals and two League Cup finals.

Emery replaced Steven Gerrard in the dugout in October 2022 with the side outside of the relegation zone on goals scored, but the Spaniard has cemented his legacy as the club's most successful Premier League manager.

This was his fifth Europa League triumph, having won the competition three times with Sevilla and once at Villarreal. The 54-year-old is only the second manager to win a major European competition five times, after five-time Champions League winner Carlo Ancelotti.

Prince William, a Villa supporters, celebrates Youri Tielemans' opener

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It is the first time in the Europa League era that Premier League clubs have won the competition in back-to-back seasons, after Tottenham Hotspur defeated Manchester United in Bilbao 12 months ago. Remarkable to think Villa didn't win any of their opening six games this season, but that now feels a very long time ago.

Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez dropped to the turf at the final whistle, adding Europa League glory to his World Cup winners' medal, but the Argentina international had largely been untroubled.

"We haven't seen anything at all that would stop the engraver from getting to work," Ally McCoist said on TNT Sports co-commentary duty for TNT Sports shortly after Rogers had become youngest player to both score and assist in a Europa League final, at the age of 23 years and 298 days old.

Bend it like Buendia! Watch as midfielder curls in STUNNER to double Villa’s lead

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Rogers told TNT Sports: "It's hard to put into words, we've worked so hard for this. We've delivered and come through. It's a great moment for the fans, great for the club. We'll go down in history.

"There was so much excitement. We're all really excited.

"The manager has been banging on at me to get easier goals and get into the box. I'm happy I could get a toe onto it and score.

"I'm tired, but not that tired. It's all worth it in the end."

'Surely that's the Europa League' - Rogers strike puts Villa in total control of final

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Watkins told TNT Sports: "It feels amazing. To perform like that was unbelievable. I felt like we really controlled the game, and we punished them in the end.

"I've watched many finals, and I think set-pieces are crucial. Until then, it was a bit cagey, they were going man for man. Fair play to [set-piece coach] Austin MacPhee for having the courage, we left four up on a corner. It's an unbelievable experience. Look at this. It's what you dream of.

"Sometimes you have ups and downs, but we pulled through in the end, we pushed on, we got Champions League football. It's so special. All of these fans - it's indescribable."

When asked about the role Emery played in the success, Watkins added: "He was really calm today in the build-up.

"Sometimes in league games, he's anxious, because he wants to get the win, but today he was calm, and that set the tone for us boys. Youri ran the show in the midfield. And Victor [Lindelof] has done so well since he's come in, he was my player of the match today."

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