ASTON Villa boss Steven Gerrard is confident his side can eradicate the inconsistencies of last season and finish in the top half of the Premier League.
After an initial upturn in results following Gerrard’s autumn appointment, Villa slumped in the second half of last term and eventually finished 14th.
Villa have signed Philippe Coutinho on a permanent basis and added Boubacar Kamara, Diego Carlos and Ludwig Augustinsson to their squad and Gerrard is looking upwards.
“We’re very much looking forward and trying to improve our league position and finish in the top half, we want to have positive cup runs as well,” Gerrard said.
“We want to try and make our fans happy.
“We’ve had a smooth pre- season, the application has been superb but now it’s for real.
“I’m confident that we can improve on our inconsistencies last season, that’s the most important thing for me.”
Gerrard has a doubt over
Emiliano Buendia as the new campaign kicks off.
The Argentina international picked up a thigh injury in a behind- closed- doors friendly with
Fulham, but has been back in training and any break should only be a short one for the playmaker.
Gerrard confirmed: “He got an injury in the behind- closed- doors game with Fulham which was disappointing because he was in a right positive place off the back of the Australian tour.
“I’m hoping he’s had no feelings from his last session because he trained with the group.”
Cameron Archer has signed a new five- year contract with the club.
The England u- 21 international, who spent time on loan at Preston last season, has committed himself to Villa until 2027.
Fight
The 20- year- old, who has scored four goals in six first- team appearances, will be part of Gerrard’s Premier League squad.
Archer said of his new contract: “I’m delighted. I’ve finally got it over and done with and I can concentrate on football now.
“The manager wants to see goals when I’m on the pitch, he wants to see me making my runs, things I’m good at and what I’m best at.
“You’ve got players like Danny Ings, Ollie Watkins and he wants to keep me around to fight for a place in the squad. I like learning from them, they’re established Premier League goalscorers.
“As a striker, you want to just score goals, that’s what you’re on the pitch for and it gives me a lot of confidence. When I watch the goals back as well, it gives me confidence to go and do it again.
“I’ll also take everything away from what I learnt at Preston to here now at Aston Villa and, hopefully, I can make a name for myself.”