Hutton: Why I 'Never Liked' Jesus Garcia Pitarch at Aston Villa
Alan Hutton "never liked" former Aston Villa sporting director Jesus Garcia Pitarch's recruitment strategy at but his successor Johan Lange has been a revelation.
The 201-time former Villa right-back spoke exclusively with Football Insider after Morgan Sanson became the sixth signing of Lange's tenure in a January £16m deal.
Under the Dane's stewardship, Villa had a magnificent summer window, signing Emiliano Martinez, Bertrand Traore and Matty Cash, as well as Ross Barkley on loan — all of whom have been instrumental to Villa's excellent campaign so far.
As quoted by the Birmingham Mail, manager Dean Smith revealed he had an excellent working relationship with "very good" recruitment chief Lange.
Hutton too praised Lange's impact, saying that he was lightyears ahead of his predecessor Pitarch who was dismissed in July.
Hutton told Football Insider: "I never really liked what Suso (Pitarch) was doing, to be honest. It seemed to be quantity over quality which is fine, he thought he was doing the best job possible.
"It turned out he wasn't but Johan's come in and I think him and Dean Smith work really well together. I think that a lot of the signings have been down to Dean Smith and it also looks like his team, who he wants, the type of player that he wants.
"It's working well, it's working really well."
Villa are flying high in the Premier League this season and fans harbour realistic ambitions of finishing in a Europa League spot.
Sanson is yet to make his Villa debut but was an unused substitute in Saturday's 1-0 victory over Southampton.