Mum loved a day out atplay-off Wembley.. I hope I can give her that
GRIEVING BRUCE AIMS TO TURN ‘PERSONAL TRAGEDY’ INTO FITTING TRIBUTE
STEVE BRUCE admits he needs to forget his “personal tragedy” to help Aston Villa to promotion.
But he believes his late mum, Sheenagh, will be with him in spirit at Wembley if Villa make it.
Bruce lost Sheenagh last Friday, just 88 days after his father Joe passed away.
Devastated Bruce admits football has been a distraction amid the heartache of losing his parents (right).
The 57-year-old said: “With the personal tragedy I have had, football has been a distraction for me.
“I want to focus on the playoffs and focus all my attention on how I can get the best out of my team to make sure we get to the final.
“I have to forget what has happened to me personally.
“If we get back to the big league, where this club should be, it will be up there with anything I have done, that’s for sure.
“The one thing my mum did enjoy was a trip to Wembley.
“I hope I can give her that. The support you get from the family is invaluable, they will want me to carry on, as my parents would, and get on with it. That was the motto in life – just carry on and get on with it.” Bruce hopes to have a fullstrength squad at his disposal against Boro tonight but keeper Sam Johnstone’s partner is expecting a baby any time. Villa did not concede a goal in two Championship matches against Boro, drawing 0-0 at Villa Park and winning 1-0 at the Riverside in December. Bruce admits cut-backs under the club’s Chinese owner Dr Tony Xia will be even bigger next term if Villa miss out on promotion as their final parachute payment drops to £15million.
But he insists he has no plans to go elsewhere even if Villa fall short.
Bruce, in charge since October 2016, added: “I am not nervous, it is better than being 13th last season. Last season was a load of c**p so we have to enjoy the playoffs. “You need a bit of luck but I’ve no intention of going anywhere if it goes t**s up. “If it doesn’t go well I will carry on until someone tells me different. I will eventually get it right given time. “I do think we are improving and the club is in better shape. “It hasn’t been easy with financial fair play – people think I have a big cheque-book here but that’s not the case. We have used loans and have had to balance the books. “There is a still a long way to go in that respect.”