No time to sulk for Aston Villa after FA Cup heartbreak, says McGinn

Aston Villa's John McGinn said there was no time to sulk following their 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in their FA Cup semi-final clash on Saturday. 

Unai Emery's team were second best at Wembley Stadium, with Eberechi Eze's stunner and Ismaila Sarr's second-half brace sending the Eagles into next month's final. 

Indeed, Villa have now lost seven of their last nine matches at Wembley in all competitions, with this defeat their third of the season against Oliver Glasner's team. 

They have also lost three of their last six games in all competitions, as many as in their previous 21 matches, but there is still plenty left for Villa to play for. 

The Villans are seventh in the Premier League table with four games of their campaign left and are just three points adrift of the Champions League places. 

"Obviously a massive disappointment. The manager spoke at length in there to remind us of how far we've come. It's not to get away from the disappointment," McGinn said. 

"What was at stake today was huge for both clubs, but for us, we are craving success and a trophy. The club has not experienced that for a long time.

"But the manager doesn't have to rant and rave, it was a huge disappointment.

"We're going to use the hurt from today to come back stronger next season and hopefully get the supporters another trip to Wembley.

"The overriding feeling is disappointment. We've got an important four games to get European football and get us back to the Champions League so we can't sulk for too long."

Villa boss Emery echoed the thoughts of McGinn, and was quick to reiterate how far Villa have come since he took over from Steven Gerrard in October 2022. 

During Emery's tenure, Villa sealed European qualification for the first time in 14 years in 2022-23 and went on to reach the Europa Conference League semi-finals last year.

They then went on to claim a place in the Champions League in the following campaign, reaching the quarter-finals before losing to Paris Saint-Germain across two legs earlier this month.

Emery said: "Two years ago, when I arrived here, we were in a really bad moment, and we are improving, and our level is going so quickly.

"Yes, of course, we lost in the Europa Conference League semi-final against Olympiacos as well. Everything we are doing is increasing our demands and today the loss is something we have to accept.

"Sorry to our supporters because they were motivated. We must be quick to react because in the league we have the most important objective.

"Today we lost and thank you to our supporters. Congratulations to Crystal Palace and we keep going. Now it is finished and we focus on the next match."