Steven Gerrard backs ‘more than capable’ Philippe Coutinho to hit Aston Villa form again
Steven Gerrard has backed Brazilian forward Philippe Coutinho to return to form amid a lacklustre spell at Aston Villa.
The former Liverpool player has failed to score in the Lions’ last five Premier League games after his scintillating start to life at Villa Park.
Whilst the Villans consider his long-term future at the club with him currently on loan from Barcelona,
Gerrard is adamant that the playmaker doesn’t need defending in the media, telling the Express & Star: “Phil will be fine. We can’t expect him to be man-of-the-match, creative and goalscoring every time he plays.
“We will continue to work with him and prepare him and I am sure it will only be a matter of time. I don’t have to defend Philippe Coutinho.
“He defends himself with the level he is at. He has shown in his time here is more than capable.”
Time.
After his first ten games with the club, Aston Villa fans would have snapped Coutinho up on a permanent basis without even giving it a second thought but several months later it is a very different picture.
It is very hard to judge whether it is the former Bayern Munich ace or just the Villans that are majorly struggling for form – maybe both with the 29-year-old the type of player who can carry a team on his back without any help.
It is a huge risk tying him down to what is likely to be a massive contract at Villa Park. The forward certainly has the quality but his consistency has come massively under question since leaving Anfield with him not being able to continuously perform ever since.
He does have a brilliant relationship with his former teammate and now manager Gerrard but is that enough to see him one of the highest-paid players in the club’s history?
Taking everything into account, including his age, the Villans would be best offering a short term deal and seeing how he does after a full pre-season and year in the Premier League – if they can with other teams sniffing.
In other Aston Villa news, the Villans might have to pay £40million to sign Yves Bissouma from Brighton