Aston Villa ‘to target Pochettino’ as patience in Gerrard runs low

Aston Villa are reportedly targetting an ambitious move to make Mauricio Pochettino their new manager as the club increasingly loses patience with current boss Steven Gerrard. The Liverpool legend has failed to get the best out of a talented group of players at Villa Park and is now the bookies’ overwhelming favourite to be the next manager to be sacked in the Premier League. 

Gerrard has overseen a poor start to the campaign for the Birmingham side, with the club sitting 16th in the division after picking up just nine points from their opening ten games. The club’s supporters have criticised the former England star for a range of matters – but the biggest grip is the 42-year-old’s failure to get the best out of a squad that includes the likes of Philippe Coutinho, John McGinn and Ollie Watkins. 

The upcoming fixtures against Fulham and Brentford are massive for his managerial future, with any slip-up likely to spell the end of his year-long stint at the club. 

Now, The Telegraph have reported that Villa will turn to Pochettino if they do decide to sack Gerrard. The club are said to be ‘prepared to move heaven and earth’ to convince the 50-year-old to join in what is a hugely ambitious attempt.

The Argentine has coached some of the best players in the world at Tottenham and PSG over the last six years and is likely to need a considerable amount of persuading to give up on that to join the Premier League strugglers.

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The hunt for a new manager will be lead by co-owner Nassef Sawiris, with fellow shareholder Wes Edens, chief executive Christian Purslow and sporting director Johan Lange all having a say in the process. The quartet are said to be prepared to wait for Pochettino if he shows an interest but have also cast their eye on coaches elsewhere. 

Former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is another ambitious target under consideration, as is former Arsenal manager Unai Emery. The club are not keen to move Gerrard on until they have found a replacement, meaning he could be granted a stay of execution as their hunt pans out. 

The former Rangers boss has become a deeply unpopular figure with fans at Villa Park over the course of this season, with the club’s 2-0 defeat to Chelsea this weekend the final straw for many despite an improved performance. Chants of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ could be heard throughout Sunday’s encounter, something Gerrard has conceded that he was aware of. 

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“I’d be stupid not to be aware of where we’re at and accept that,” he said during his post-match interview. “I won’t hide from criticism.

“I was aware of all the shouts which came from behind the bench, but I don’t think all of them were directed at me from a personal point of view. I heard a group signing from the Holte End, I’m aware of it all. But I have to accept it and try to do everything I can to change the way they are feeling.” 

It remains to be seen how long Gerrard will remain at Villa Park but it looks increasingly clear that his time at the club is limited as the Villans start tentatively searching for a new boss. 

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