John McGinn admits transfer activity has hurt Aston Villa’s survival hopes

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Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn has admitted that the large influx of new players at the club last summer has not helped the club in their fight for Premier League survival. 

Speaking to The Sunday Times, the Scottish midfielder has admitted that the ‘flung together’ nature of the club’s recruitment made it hard for the players to gel this season. 

However, he also hinted that the recent lockdown and break have helped, using the example of midfield partner Douglas Luiz’s English improving during the period. 

“I played alongside Douglas Luiz for the first half of the season and he genuinely couldn’t understand a word I said. I don’t know if he spent the lockdown with his tutor virtually, but fair play to him because it helps so much when he can understand ‘man on’. I don’t think they know what ‘man on’ is in Brazil.

“There were a lot of players (signed) at once, from different leagues and countries, kind of flung together and people expected us to gel instantly, but it doesn’t work like that. The break has been good for us.”

Following promotion last summer, Aston Villa spent big to bring in the likes of Luiz, Wesley Moraes, Trezeguet, Bjorn Engels, and many more. 

The results have not been universally satisfying, with Villa currently sitting in the relegation zone ahead of the upcoming Premier League restart. 

Aston Villa have seemingly fallen into a trap many newly-promoted sides have in the past. Fulham, for example, spent big on numerous top talents from across Europe for the 2018-19 season but had a disastrous season, being relegated with minimal fuss back to the Championship.

McGinn is clearly hopeful that the break has allowed for some of the new recruits to get even more comfortable with their surroundings.

The results will likely be shown on the pitch when the Premier League season gets back underway.