Steven Gerrard has returned to the Premier League. He will direct his first English league game on Saturday, when Aston Villa host Brighton & Hove Albion. The Birmingham team fired Dean Smith just ten days ago, and they relied on the former Liverpool footballer to take over the club. The 1982 European champion has not played continental competitions for a decade. And the last ones, defeats in the Europa League playoffs in 2009 and 2010, did not leave a good taste in the mouth in the Midlands.
There the club wants to return, which currently occupies the 16th place in the standings. And so his new coach made it known in his first press conference. “Success in soccer is only achieved by winning matches. In the long term, the club wants to return to Europe. It is not the right time to set a specific date, we need to start winning matches before anything else. We have a fantastic quarry, great employees. If those players are good enough they will have their chance, ”promised Gerrard. “Although right now what worries me the most are the next three points. We must occupy a higher position, but I do not want to look beyond Brighton. “
The 41-year-old technician returns to the English league leaving Glasgow Rangers as Scottish champions for the first time in ten years. When he succeeded last season, rumors arose about a possible return of the former Liverpool captain to Anfield, and his former team was discussed again at the press conference introducing his new squad. And Gerrard didn’t like a hair. “It’s very unfair,” he answered the question if Villa Park was just a stop prior to his return to the banks of the River Mersey. “I am honored and proud to have received this job. Everybody knows what Liverpool means to me, but this press conference shouldn’t be talking about any team other than Aston Villa. Liverpool have a top-notch coach right now, and if he signed a contract for life I would be very happy for the club and for him ”.