Steven Gerrard has vowed that his burning desire to transform Aston Villa’s fortunes “has only got bigger”. The head coach is under mounting pressure off the back of four defeats from five this season while, on Saturday, a defeat to Man City will make it the worst-ever start to a Premier League season. Gerrard and his side were booed off the pitch in Villa’s previous home fixture in defeat against West Ham last week and, ahead of a daunting test against nine-goal Erling Haaland and Co, was asked about the negativity that’s been launched his way given Villa’s woeful run of form.
Steven Gerrard said: “We live in a world where, when you’re in this situation like myself, there’s going to be lines and comments and opinions. Some will be fair. Some will be right. Some will be exaggerated. Some will be far-fetched. That’s the world we live in, I certainly appreciate that. This is not the first time criticism or mud has flown my way. I’ve been around the game a long time and, for me, it motivates me more. It’s a time where you’re challenged and the heat’s on you. And the so-called pressure is on you. It’s time to step forward and show everyone that you can handle it, that you can cope with it. And back yourself and back the people around you that you can get through it. My ambitions and my energy and thoughts for this club have not changed, they’ve only got bigger and better. People’s opinions can be changed very quickly in this game and that’s what I intend to do.”
Elsewhere, the head coach was quizzed on his conversations with the club’s owners, Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens and, in particular, whether the remit has changed slightly given Villa’s £25million net spend in this summer’s transfer window.
Steven Gerrard said: “The owners have given this club incredible support. The remit in the first part was to get clear of relegation which I think we did in the end. The remit this year is to progress and improve and to try and finish in the top-half positions and, obviously, improve in the domestic cups as well. I have no problem sharing that remit. That’s how it is and that’s what it is.”
Steven Gerrard has revealed that new addition Leander Dendoncker was never on Aston Villa’s radar up until transfer deadline day. The Belgian penned a long-term deal for £13million after losing his place to Wolves’ record-buy Matheus Nunes in the heart of Bruno Lage’s midfield. Dendoncker, 27, wants to cement his place in Belgium’s starting XI at the World Cup this winter and, on his decision to join Villa, Gerrard said the move “came about quite late” on transfer deadline day.
Steven Gerrard said: “The Leander Dendoncker situation came up very late. He wasn’t on any list because we didn’t believe that Wolves were going to let him go. But a lot of players are in the situation where they fall out of a manager’s first choice, if you like, they obviously start thinking about World Cup situations and it came up late. This is a player who’s played for Wolves for many seasons who have finished high up in the league so he knows what it takes. He’s also been a part of one of the best international teams for the last few years so we’re hoping he can add some much-needed quality and support to our players.”
Gerrard also signed Jan Bednarek on deadline day and, on that double deal to bring in the Polish centre-back and
Leon Dendoncker, said: “We had the opportunity to add pedigree, profile and strength to the squad, players who have played in big, high-calibre games. It was important to go out and get a centre-back given Carlos’s injury. That was a priority. Jan’s experience is a welcome boost.”
The head coach is preparing to take on Man City tomorrow and, despite losing four of the first five this season, says his team aren’t “too far away” from kick-starting a run of form.
Steven Gerrard added: “The most pleasing thing for me is I don’t think we’re too far away. You can see players fighting, running hard and working hard for each other and putting their bodies on the line. They’re working hard to put Aston Villa in a better place and that’s the most pleasing thing for me. Everyone’s aware of the size of this challenge [vs Man City] but, for me, it’s exciting at the same time to try and get a result that no-one on the planet expects us to get. That’s what football and sport is about, to try and achieve something that no-one gives you the chance of achieving. That excites me.”
