No McGinn, no party, as Villa fluff their lines in Europe | OneFootball

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McGinn’s absence hits Villa hard

Aston Villa blew a golden opportunity to qualify for the last-16 of the Champions League with a dismal performance at Monaco on Tuesday.

Manager Unai Emery pulled no punches after the game, accusing several Villa players of ‘not following the plan’ in the 1-0 defeat.

Villa were outplayed in the middle of the park and Emery must have been cursing his luck that John McGinn was unavailable for the game.

McGinn is a hugely underrated midfielder, and his presence in the team would likely have triggered a more inspiring performance from Villa.

He is unlikely to return in time for Villa’s final league phase game against Celtic, which could scupper their hopes of securing a top-eight finish.

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What to watch

Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City have struggled in the Champions League this season. Something has to give when they meet in the French capital this evening.