Steve Gerrard explains why John McGinn is club's new captain

Steven Gerrard insists the transition of Aston Villa’s captaincy from Tyrone Mings to John McGinn has been ‘really smooth’ as he praises new leader as ‘my type of player’ – but admits he will keep some of his reasons private

  • Steven Gerrard has named John McGinn the new captain of Aston Villa 
  • The Villa boss he is happy with the decision and wanted a full time captain 
  • Midfielder succeeds Tyrone Mings, who had been skipper when Gerrard arrived 
  • Villa begin their Premier League campaign against Bournemouth on Saturday  

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard says he is happy with his decision to name John McGinn the new captain of the club. 

The Scottish midfielder succeeds Tyrone Mings who had been Villa skipper at the club when Gerrard was appointed manager last November. 

Speaking at his first pre-match press conference of the season, Gerrard said that it was always his intention of naming a full-time captain and that the transition between the two players has been really easy. 

Steven Gerrard has been explaining his decision to change the captaincy at Aston Villa 

Tyrone Mings was the skipper when Gerrard arrived but has understood the manager’s plan

John McGinn has been named the new Villa captain as he is ‘universally respected’ at the club

‘I think it’s been really smooth’ the 42-year-old said. 

‘And that’s been a credit to Tyrone. I spoke to Tyrone first before I spoke to anyone else, face-to-face, and I gave him my reasons to why – some of them will remain private which is fair. 

‘But I inherited Tyrone as captain when I took this job in November, but I always wanted to name a full-time captain and I wanted that captain to be my captain and my decision.’ 

The former England midfielder chose McGinn, who joined Villa from Hibernian in 2018, down to how respected he is at the club and is someone who Gerrard says is his kind of player. 

‘I analysed the group really closely, on and off the pitch, and I really happy and content with my decision that I went with John McGinn.’ 

‘I think he’s universally respected, he’s been round the club for a long time and the fans adore him. Everyone around Bodymore and around Villa Park has major respect for John and his peers have.

‘He plays with consistency, he’s my type of player, and they a few reasons why I’ve decided to go with John.’ 

Gerrard has called his new Villa captain ‘my kind of player’ on the eve of the new season 

Along with McGinn, Gerrard has chosen goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez as vice-captain and Ashley Young as club captain.

The Villains begin their Premier League campaign with a trip to Bournemouth on Saturday, before playing host to Everton. 

So far this summer Gerrard has recruited Boubacar Kamara, Diego Carlos and turned Philippe Coutinho’s loan deal into a permanent move. 




Share this article

Source: Read Full Article