John McGinn has challenged Aston Villa to show their Premier League quality when they face Indonesia All Stars in Jakarta on Saturday, insisting the opening game of the club’s Asia tour should be treated as a proper test. The Villa captain said the trip is about more than travel and publicity: it is also a chance to build fitness, help new arrivals settle and give academy prospects a clearer feel for Unai Emery’s setup.
McGinn joined his team-mates at Bodymoor Heath on Monday before the squad travelled to Indonesia, where Villa will play at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium at 1pm BST. The fixture is the first of a three-match tour that continues with BG Pathum United in Thailand before finishing against Bayern Munich in Hong Kong.
McGinn wants Villa to set the standard
The Scotland international was clear that Villa cannot afford to treat the visit as a low-key outing. He said the club are growing their fan base around the world and noted they have already been welcomed by a lot of supporters in Indonesia.
He also expects a lively atmosphere and warned that the opposition will be highly motivated. That is why he believes Villa must approach the game with the same level of intent they would bring to any demanding fixture in the Premier League.
“The Indonesian All Stars team will be very motivated,” McGinn said. “We want to make sure we can show why we’re the Premier League team and that we’ve come here to compete.”
A useful tour for Emery and his squad
For Unai Emery, the Asia tour is as much about timing as it is about results. Several senior players have only recently returned following the World Cup, so the trip gives the manager an early chance to reintroduce them to the rhythm of pre-season while also bedding in fresh faces.
That makes the Jakarta match important even though it is not part of a competitive tournament. Villa need sharpness, cohesion and the right mentality, and McGinn’s message suggests the captain expects those standards to be visible from the first whistle.
The bigger picture is straightforward. Villa are using the tour to strengthen on and off the pitch, and a positive start in Indonesia would help set the tone before the squad move on to Thailand and then Hong Kong.
