This past season could have gone any which way for Aston Villa. That is the nature of sports. A decision here or a slightly different touch there can ultimately lead to drastically different outcomes.
Unfortunately for Villa, however, when the side needed it most, in terms of Champions League or trophy ramifications, seemingly anything that could have worked against the club did at the most inopportune time. This includes, of course, some of the mind-boggling decisions as well as some unlucky moments that could have easily provided Villa with the path through to the next round or a critical set of three points.
Still, it has to be acknowledged that Unai Emery's men did well during the second part of the campaign with a late push in the Premier League while also going far in Champions League and FA Cup.
John McGinn had an interesting conversation with Birmingham Live's John Townley in which the midfielder spoke on how he perceived the past campaign unfolded.
McGinn mentioned something interesting. While also speaking to the nature of how moments in a match can end up having tremendous consequences, he also expressed his hope that Villa can build off that late push from the past season.
Reason to have favorable viewpoint regarding Aston Villa
This is something that can be hard to capture in sports. Being in a rhythm and having a routine, only for it all to need to be recaptured following the summer break, can be a difficult undertaking. Like much of life, progress is rarely, if at all, linear.
What McGinn's comments do speak to is how ready he is to compete with the current Villa cast, a grouping of players that he already has a great deal of chemistry with.
When things do click, the time spent together will end up showing up and paying off in an enhanced way compared to the clubs that are consistently relying on new signings. Time will tell when that will take place.