Hibs lessons help craft rival star into Team of the Year ace as ex-Hibee responds after 'nightmare' season
The former Hibs star is now thriving at a rival thanks partly to lessons learned in Leith.
A former Hibs star has revealed the Easter Road grounding that has given him the platform to become one of the Premiership’s best defenders.
Paul McGinn has been voted in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year after the right-back-turned centre-back’s brilliant campaign in the heart of Motherwell’s defence. Boss Jens Berthel Askou has had much praise for a possession-heavy style of play that has them fourth and six clear of Hibs one spot beneath them in the race for this term’s final European spot.
35-year-old McGinn missed most of last season through injury but his comeback has been aided from his move-starting role at Hibs between 2020-2022. While not totally the same, his Easter Road stint provided a good grounding, as he’s left thrilled over what boss Askou has been able to achieve.
What former Hibs star has been named in Team of the Season?
McGinn said on the Premier Sports Social club: “We've been talking about this quite a lot recently. I'd say I had a good spell maybe later on at St Mirren and then at Hibs. Probably a similar level but just in terms of a team dominating. I've not had a team... like we had a good Hibs team but we were still even in games whereas it's the sort of dominating possession and going to Celtic and Rangers and not riding your luck whereas then you probably had to quite a lot.
“Obviously they've dropped a bit this year, their levels, and I'm sure it won't last but we've taken advantage of it. The manager speaks about it, that it shows that there's untapped players in countries, that you don't think of. He's just drilled it into us throughout the season and I remember we played Hertha Berlin in a friendly right at the start of the season.
“It was pretty much a level game with them and that was the sort of one for us that we thought, here we go, we could be good here. It's hard to speak any higher of him to be honest. It's not just football either. If you high pressure us we will kick it in behind you.
How Hibs helped Motherwell star adapt to Jens Berthel Askou tactics
“So it's not just like we're playing one way or the other, it's really good to be involved in. Even at Hibs and stuff, I did start a lot of our attacks, it was kind of something I was comfortable doing but it was in a back three. This is the first time I've ever played in a back four so that did help me adapt I'd say into a four.
“It was like music to my ears when he started describing to me how he wanted me to play and how he felt I could bring that to the team. Especially after the nightmare season I had last year, I'd have taken 30 odd games fighting for my life just playing every week, but to have a season we have had just feels amazing.”
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