Expert issues ‘massive’ verdict on Steven Gerrard’s future after Aston Villa source’s reveal
Aston Villa are suffering from a “confidence crisis” after a poor start to the new season.
That’s according to ex-Villains boss Alex McLeish, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about his former side’s start to the season.
Aston Villa have lost three of their opening four Premier League games with pressure building on Steven Gerrard.
Football Insider revealed on Monday (29 August) that Gerrard’s position as manager is far from secure and the club’s ambitious American owners won’t hesitate to sack him if results do not improve.
However, McLeish is backing Gerrard to turn things around.
“When I was at Villa, one of the key problems for us was when Darren Bent went out injured,” McLeish told Football Insider’s Ben Wild.
“Agbonlahor and Heskey were not in their top form so I tried a couple of young players and a couple of them got unbelievably vital goals. Sometimes these things work.
“I see Stevie trying everything now. He has the two strikers up top, Watkins and Ings. They are still looking for that magic touch that those guys can bring.
“It just seems like there is a breakdown in confidence among the squad. They have spent a lot of money, I’m not sure Stevie has as of yet but Dean Smith was very well looked after by the board in terms of buying big names.
“It looks like there is a bit of a confidence crisis in there. You just have to persevere, that is a massive word in football at this level.
“You have to persevere with what you think is right. He also has to play his best players, he can’t keep changing the team.
“You get the fans shouting you don’t know what you’re doing, you have to stick together with the stalwarts you know will get you out of this crisis.”
In other news, one pundit has shared his verdict on Aston Villa appointing Graham Potter after a source’s reveal.