Villa, European Cup winners in 1981-82 and Super Cup winners a year later, last reached the knockout stages of a European club competition in 2009.
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New Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard would like to see Aston Villa playing in European club competitions once again in the long term. The former Liverpool skipper has also categorically stated that his new position is not a “stepping stone” to managing at Anfield one day. Ahead of the club’s clash with Brighton on Saturday, Gerrard – in his first press conference as Villa boss – said it was an “honour” to have taken up the role. The former Rangers manager is also feeling “great” in returning to the Premier League – this time as a coach.
Gerrard started: “In terms of Liverpool, again I don’t think this press conference should be about any other club but Aston Villa, I think we have to show respect to our supporters. I think everyone knows all around the world what Liverpool means to me but my focus is very much on Aston Villa. I’ve said that I am all-in and I can promise our supporters that that’s the case. I think first and foremost it’s an extremely proud moment from a personal point of you, it’s a real honour to be the manager of this football club.”
Gerrard has made his long-expected return to the English top-flight six years after calling time on his career at Liverpool. For the Reds, he has made 710 appearances between 1998 and 2015. Gerrard said: “Everyone knows around the world what Liverpool means to me but my focus is on Aston Villa. You will never hear me say that it is a ‘stepping stone’ [to managing Liverpool]. For me, I am really proud and honoured to be in this position.”
“I am all-in. I will give this job everything that it needs for it to be a success. I will be 100 per cent committed and I don’t think there’s anything wrong in football to have dreams and aspirations. They have got a world-class coach who they are very happy with. If he was to sign a lifetime deal right now, I would be very happy for them and him.”
Villa, European Cup winners in 1981-82 and Super Cup winners a year later, last reached the knockout stages of a European club competition in 2009. It was under Martin O’Neill when he guided them to the UEFA Cup Round of 32. Gerrard added: “Success in football is always about winning football matches first and foremost. Long-term I think the club would like to be back on a European level.
“I don’t think it’s the right time now to put any specific date on that but for me more importantly it’s about focusing on the short-term which is Brighton at the weekend, we need to start winning football matches again and moving up the table.
“We’ve got a challenging game at the weekend so I don’t really want to look too far ahead of that, but with the players we have got in the squad, we should be higher than where we are. So it’s one step at a time and we need that win as soon as possible.”
Gerrard joined Villa after spending three-and-a-half years at Rangers as their manager. Speaking about returning to England, the 41-year-old said: “Although the last seven to 10 days have gone extremely quickly, it’s been a really happy time for me because the opportunity to be back in the Premier League and the opportunity to be close to my family were the two main reasons why this was the right move for me.”
“I pretty much knew what I was going to do because I knew it was the right move for me. The chance to be back in the Premier League, the best league in the world, to compete against the best coaches, against some of the best players. I’ve missed the Premier League and it’s great to be back.”
