John McGinn says Unai Emery saved his Aston Villa career but admits 'he said the other day he hated me sometimes'
Scotland hero John McGinn has credited boss Unai Emery with saving his Aston Villa career.
McGinn, who celebrated his 500th career appearance in Villa's draw with Premier League leaders Liverpool has admitted that he and Emery can get on each other's nerves. But thanked the Spanish boss for reviving his career in the Midlands after a tough spell under former Rangers gaffer Steven Gerrard.
Speaking to TNT Sports, McGinn said: "He said the other day that he hates me sometimes. I said that I hate him. We don’t. We’ve got a love-hate relationship. He’s very demanding, ever since he came in. I’m so grateful for him, because at that time, my stock at Villa was at its lowest.
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"But the manager looked at things with his own eyes and decided that I could be a big part of his plans, and he showed massive belief in me. He trusts me. He’s very, very hard on me. I don’t know whether that’s because I’m captain and he knows that I can take it. I’m used to that with Neil Lennon and other managers I’ve had up the road.
“I’m used to getting criticised in front of everyone. He is very hard on me, but I feel like I’m learning all the time and he knows that if I’m needed to play left-back, up front, right mid, left mid, he knows that he can rely on me.
"The last few games, I’ve been centre mid, which is a very demanding position in his system. It’s been very different. For me to learn off someone of that stature and his achievements in the game has been first-class. He understands me a bit more. When he asks me to speak to the dressing room, he says to be calm and slow. He’s been amazing and hopefully, he’s here for many years to come."
The 73 time cap also joked that he felt he was born in the wrong era, as he continues his down-to-earth image - despite being surrounded by superstars who put as much effort into what they were as they do into performing on the park. He added: "I did used to get pelters but I get battered more now. It's too much with them all, every day is a fashion shoot. Not even the new lads, everyone in general. It's just the way that football is going.
"I look like a painter every day and they all laugh at me, but I don't care. I'm just like, so what lads? When we go on the Christmas do or have a night out and I have a wee bit more of a bash they are all surprised. Whereas if I did that every day they'd just be like, same old. I won't change in that sense, and I think with the way football's going I'm in the wrong era."
