Steven Gerrard was back in front of the media on Tuesday afternoon as he looks ahead to Wednesday night’s game against Manchester City.
The Aston Villa head coach was quizzed by local and national journalists to preview the match at Villa Park.
Here’s what he had to say…
On team news…
“Danny Ings, unfortunately, won’t make tomorrow. We were protecting him at the weekend.
“He’s had a little bit of a setback from the previous injury – nothing major, but we had to put the brakes on for a few days at the least.
“The rest is as it was. We’ve got a couple of niggles that are probably on the back of the intense training that we’ve done in the last couple of weeks. The rest are available to play.
“Bertrand Traore still won’t be available and he’ll return to training, hopefully, pre-Christmas. Trezeguet will play for the Under-23s next week. He’s not allowed to play tonight against Charlton.”
On recent form…
“It’s certainly helped the feel-good factor around the place. They’ve enjoyed the two weeks that we’ve had together. Winning football matches always helps, in terms of the feeling around the place.
“The players have to take belief and confidence, not just from the results but the performances that they’ve given. You can see quite clearly that they’re listening and trying to do what we’re asking of them.
“We’re also aware that the games are coming thick and fast. A real good side are coming into town tomorrow, so it will be a real big acid test for us. It’s one that we want to give a real good, positive account of ourselves in.”
On Ashley Young’s impact…
“He’s shown fantastic leadership around the training ground. He’s a standards setter. The young lads look up to him and he’s got a big part to play.
“He is someone we have to manage because we have to respect where he’s at. He’s been perfect for me and us as a group of staff.
“When you come into a new club, you need players in the dressing room you can lean on to be an outer version of your staff to send the right messages and to lead in the right way. Ash has been fantastic.
“I thought he was terrific at the weekend, but it’s no surprise to me. Not only have I competed against Ash but I’ve shared a dressing room with him for England, so I was very much aware that he’d help me.
“I’m really looking forward to working with him moving forward.”
On pitting his wits against Pep Guardiola…
“I’m the lucky one that’s had the opportunity to compete against him as a player. I’m very respectful of the challenge that’s ahead of me tomorrow, but I’m in this game for one reason and one reason only, and that’s to test myself against the best.
“He was a fantastic player. You could see clearly that he was a student of a game with the way he played it, the intelligence and awareness he had.
“You can see that he’s learnt, been around the best, been at a fantastic club to grow as a coach and he’s gone and proved himself everywhere he’s gone. He’s littered with success.
“Every person that speaks about Guardiola around the game, supporters as well, are well aware that he’s one of the best in the game.”