Steven Gerrard ‘surprise’ cited after Aston Villa source’s new manager reveal – pundit
Aston Villa fans will demand a manager who can deliver European football as the hunt for Steven Gerrard’s replacement begins.
That’s according to former Hibernian striker Tam McManus, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about Gerrard’s future.
Gerrard was sacked by Villa after a dismal 3-0 defeat to Fulham on Thursday (20 October).
The result left the Villains outside the relegation one on goals scored.
On Saturday (22 October), Football Insider revealed Brentford are braced for an approach from Aston Villa for Thomas Frank, who has a release clause in his contract that is understood to be less than £3million.
McManus was surprised to see Gerrard fail to succeed at Villa.
“I watched him up at Rangers and I thought he was a terrific manager,” McManus told Football Insider‘s Ben Wild.
“He stopped 10-in-a-row, I know Rangers were backed but doing that made him an absolute hero among the Rangers fans.
“There were some great runs in Europe and he really helped put the club back on the map in terms of European football.
“I’m surprised, I thought he would do well at Villa. There is a good squad there and he had money to spend. Villa are a huge club and the fans expect them to be up in the top six or top eight every season.
“So for them to be 16th or 18th in the table is not good enough. You had shouts from the stands at the Fulham game.
“They have hit the panic button because they got near that bottom three. It happens everywhere.”
Villa fans turned on Gerrard during the game at Craven Cottage as The Athletic reported on the night that fans were chanting “get out of our club” as the now-former manager headed down the tunnel at full time.
Brentford and Aston Villa face off against each other at Villa Park on Sunday (23 October).
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