GERRARD CALLS FOR MORE FROM EMI IF HE WANTS TO PHIL THE GAP
STEVEN GERRARD has warned Emi Buendia he needs to start delivering if he wants a spot in Aston Villa’s starting XI.
The Villa boss has thrown down the gauntlet to the Argentinian playmaker as calls from the fans have become increasingly noisy over his inclusion.
Buendia became Villa’s record signing when he joined the club from Norwich for an initial fee of £33million in June last year.
And although he has shown flashes of inspiration, they have not been enough to persuade Gerrard to pick him week in, week out.
Instead, Gerrard has plumped for his former Liverpool team-mate Philippe Coutinho but, with the Brazilian too struggling for form, supporters’ attentions have turned to his south American rival. Gerrard, whose side head to Nottingham Foest tomorrow, said: “Emi will get opportunities. Being the club record signing doesn’t guarantee you a start.
“I will admit that in terms of his cameos he is sending a message to me that he deserves opportunities from the beginning.
“He has had those, away at Crystal Palace and Arsenal, but he hasn’t been at the same level starting as when he’s come on and impacted the game.
“The challenge for Emi is when that opportunity comes for him he needs to go from the beginning and maintain a level of performance across the whole 90 minutes. “That’s what we want from him.” Part of the reason for Villa’s sketchy early-season form has been their wastefulness.
Six goals in eight Premier
League outings so far has left Gerrard’s defence on the back foot – a problem highlighted last week against Leeds.
Jesse Marsch’s side were down to 10 men for almost the whole of the second half.
Gerrard says there is a unique set of circumstances that have stopped Villa finding their touch in front of the opposition’s goal.
He said: “It’s going to be a challenge for me, to find that right blend to win games.
“We have got people on the sidelines who are itching for more opportunities and more game-time.
“I believe we have the talent and ability to be more ruthless and clinical.
“We’re working on that in training but the players have to deliver. It’s been unique this year.
“We have a lot of players on the frontline all searching to get back to the best place they can be.
“That’s bound to have an effect on the team.”