How many English teams will play in next season’s Champions League?
The Premier League is guaranteed to have five teams in next season’s Champions League due to being one of the top two European leagues with the highest Uefa coefficient.
However, there could now be six English teams in next season’s competition following Aston Villa’s win over Freiburg in the Europa League final.
Mike Jones21 May 2026 06:00
‘Hopefully Prince William is paying for the free bar’
John McGinn also joked about Prince William being in attendance and celebrating Aston Villa’s victory.
“Hopefully Prince William is paying for the free bar. He’s a classy man he was in dressing room before the game,” McGinn said.
“He’s a massive villa fan, he was never going to miss it. He’s just a normal guy, it’s great to have his support.
“Hopefully he can have a couple of drinks with us and maybe get his credit card out.”
(Reuters)
Mike Jones21 May 2026 05:00
More from John McGinn who spoke about his feelings before the game.
“I wasn’t nervous. I was for the semi final,” he said.
“I had full confidence in our ability. We’ve built so much and this group of players deserve it.
“The supporters do. In the Championship every away end was full to the rafters. If we were relegated it’d be the same.”
Mike Jones21 May 2026 04:00
Prince William wildly celebrates from stands as Aston Villa cruise to Europa League glory
Mike Jones21 May 2026 03:00
The TNT Sports pundit said: “John McGinn’s statue might be next to Emery’s
“The way he’s developed since he’s been there has been nothing short of remarkable.
“He’s so reliable, so consistent. He pops up with big goals. He’s so humble.
“He’s what you want your captain to be.”
Mike Jones21 May 2026 02:00
The huge problem for Uefa with English domination of Europe
As tends to be the case with Unai Emery in the Europa League, his team are coming into form at exactly the right time. An often laborious 2026 for Aston Villa has suddenly enjoyed release. Working on limited resources relative to the top of the Premier League, Emery has got it close to spot on. Villa are suddenly flying just before their biggest game in 44 years.
Miguel Delaney21 May 2026 01:00
Aston Villa end decades long wait for major trophy with Europa League victory
After falling short in the Conference League semi-finals and Champions League last-eight over recent times, Unai Emery brought European success back to Villa Park at the third time of asking.
The Prince of Wales was in attendance to witness Villa’s first European final since he was born, and watched his beloved side win their first silverware since the League Cup in 1996.
Mike Jones21 May 2026 00:00
McGinn also explained how it feels to finally play in, and win, a European final.
“It means a lot. As a kid growing up I remember Celtic in 2003. It wasn’t a great night for them but it was special,” he said.
“I was lucky enough to go the final at Hampden in 2007. To be here, in 2026, as captain of Aston Villa is incredible. It’s the proudest night of my career.
“I’ll try to enjoy it. I like to party but I’ll take it easy to try and soak it all in.”
“Being 31, in my first European final, I’ve seen my mates [Jack] Grealish and [Andy] Robertson win. It’s my turn. It’s so special, I’ll cherish every minute.”
Mike Jones20 May 2026 23:54
The Villa captain addressed how his team played saying: “We started well. I’m biased, but we have a great set piece coach in Austin MacPhee.
“We tried to deceive a bit with the set piece. We did it against liverpool at the weekend.
“Youri [Tielemans] has great quality to find the goal. It’d have been over the bar if it were me!”
Mike Jones20 May 2026 23:48
‘Everything we built came together’
Aston Villa captain John McGinn has been with the club for 10 years and has taken them from the Championship to the Europa League final.
Now that Villa are European champions again, he said: “I can’t believe it to be honest. What we’ve been through as a club, this club is close to being in a right bad way seven years ago. V Sports bought the club over. Their one remit was to get it back to the Premier League and back to the levels of before.
“Tonight was everything we built coming together. The pride I felt with 10 minutes to go knowing we were about to be champions – I can’t describe it.”
(PA)
Mike Jones20 May 2026 23:42