Steven Gerrard spoke to the media on Friday morning as he previewed Aston Villa's trip to Brentford.
The head coach answered questions on a number of topics as he looked ahead to the club's first game of 2022.
Here's what he had to say...
On team news...
“The team is in decent shape, in terms of what we’ve got available for the weekend. You’ll be well aware that there’s a testing process we’ve still got to come through.
“Leon Bailey will still be missing and Marvelous Nakamba, who are more long-term. Ashley Young has got a real outside chance – he’s got a little fracture in his toe.
“It’s probably too soon for Ash, but he is pushing and trying his best to be available. Besides that, we should have all the group available if they come through the COVID testing.”
On Tyrone Mings’ suspension…
“Whoever’s picked to replace Tyrone, whether it be Kortney Hause or Axel Tuanzebe, they have to make sure that we don’t miss Tyrone.
“He’s a fantastic player, he’s led by example so far. I’ve been really impressed with him not just on the pitch but off it as well. I’m sure he’ll be missed in certain ways.
“When you’re a manager, you hope that his replacement comes in and does a stellar job so that he’s not missed too much.
“It’s down to the players to make sure we go and get a positive result for Villa and that people are not talking about people who weren’t there with us on the weekend.”
On his spell in isolation with COVID-19…
“I’m very much involved in that result (v Chelsea) and the outcome of the game, that’s my responsibility. I was very much in touch with the staff and trying to get messages to the bench.
“It was me who selected the team and the substitutions within it, so it’s very much on my shoulders. I had a chance to rest in terms of being at home and being away from it, but the work never stopped. You’re still watching the sessions back, you’re still having recruitment meetings – I’ve absolutely worked my Zoom and Microsoft Teams this week.
“From my point of view, I always want to be here. I want to be here and on the job itself. It’s nice to be back.”
On Villa’s January transfer plans…
“The important thing is we’ll only make signings if we feel they’re the right ones for the team and for the club to move us forward and to improve us. We won’t make them for the sake of it just to add volume.
“We are looking and assessing certain players for certain positions in the squad. I won’t give too much away because my phone will go on fire and start smoking this afternoon with agents, which I don’t want.
“Myself, Christian Purslow and Johan Lange have spoken every day in the past week, more so because I’ve had a lot of free time because of COVID. We’ve had some good, positive meetings and we have identified certain individuals we’d like to bring in.
“If we can make that happen in this window, great. If not, it might be a case of being patient and waiting until the summer. We are actively looking to improve things.”
On facing Brentford and head coach Thomas Frank…
“They’re a good team with a really fascinating manager. I like to hear his press conferences, I like the way he coaches on the side of the pitch.
“He’s done an incredible job at Brentford and I’m looking forward to competing against him at the weekend, and so are the team. We’re on the back of a disappointing result, but a performance that had a lot of positives within it.
“I’m looking for a response and a reaction from that defeat. We’re going into a tough environment, a new stadium, a crowd that stays behind the team whatever happens. They did themselves proud with their performance against City.
“They’ve got some dangerous individuals in their team, but they’re very much a team. There’s not much ego in the Brentford squad, so there’s much to admire about them.”
