Aston Villa sack Gerrard, to sign Pochettino?

 

Steven Gerrard has been sacked as Aston Villa manager following the 3-0 loss at Fulham on Thursday. (Photo credit: Super Sport)

Aston Villa FC has announced the departure of head coach Steven Gerrard following an embarrassing day out at Craven Cottage where they lost 3-0.

The former England international was appointed in November 2021 to replace the then-manager Dean Smith. Gerrard enjoyed a great start but his team soon regressed and struggled through the season but Thursday night’s loss leaves Villa just outside the relegation zone on goal difference.

Gerrard watched helplessly on the sidelines as Fulham fans chant “you’re getting sacked in the morning”. In his post-match interview, Gerrard said: “I thought I picked the right team for the game but in the end, I saw the opposite”

Calamitous errors from Tyrone Mings have haunted Villa in back-to-back games and with the ugly history that saw the England center-back lose his armband, it’s easy to wonder if the defender got his wish after the announcement of Gerrard’s sack.

"We were second best for the majority of the first half and were lucky to still be in the game at half-time, it was down to our keeper making some outstanding saves.

"The performance was nowhere near good enough.

"Tonight was a tough night for me personally. We will see what happens but I understand the situation we are in."

Gerrard has left Villa in a worse state than Dean Smith did; Villa had ten points from eleven games and on 15^th in the league before Smith was fired. Gerrard’s Villa is 17^th on the log, scoring only seven goals and on nine points from eleven games.

Gerrard’s excuse would be thoroughly scrutinized after the club’s hierarchy backed him heavily with the acquisition of Phillippe Coutinho, Diego Carlos, Lucas Digne, Boubacar Kamara and Leandor Dendoncker. The team does not deserve a relegation zone placement.

Word on the street is that Mauricio Pochettino is wanted by Villa fans, the Argentine is out of job and would relish another crack at the premier league. Gerrard only won 12 games in 38 games, the least of any recent manager that lasted up to 38 games.