Jamie Carragher tells Phillippe Coutinho to start performing to save Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa
Jamie Carragher has called on Philippe Coutinho to start performing to save Steven Gerrard’s job at Aston Villa after a rough start to the season.
The Villans have lost four of their first five games and Steven Gerrard has found himself under serious pressure, having spent over £100m improving the squad since he took over last year.
But former teammate Carragher, writing in his Telegraph column [2 September], says he needs his players to step up and said that former Barcelona midfielder Coutinho is someone who hasn’t delivered and he must start justifying his salary to help the manager out.
“Wherever he goes, he cannot erase memories of his career or his feelings towards the club with which he will be most synonymous,” he said.
“But anyone doubting his commitment to whatever task he is given seriously underestimates him.
“What Gerrard is going through now is one of the reasons many top players are put off management. Yes, the rewards are exceptionally good but your reputation is always on the line, your qualities constantly analysed and re-analysed to the point where the characteristics once referenced to praise you become ammunition for critics.
“Take the example of Gerrard signing Philippe Coutinho. When the Brazilian joined Villa on loan it was presented as the kind of coup only a manager with Gerrard’s kudos could have inspired.
“Now, because Coutinho has not delivered beyond his initial, encouraging promise, his signing is seen negatively, and one which had Gerrard’s fingerprints over it, especially as he is being picked ahead of Emi Buendía.
“What looked at the time to be a no-brainer deal will be remembered as a waste of the club’s resources unless Coutinho starts producing. It is too soon to completely dismiss that signing as a mistake, but he certainly needs to start justifying his salary.”
Point well made
There is plenty that Gerrard has done since he took over that has received well justified criticism, but he’s also done good things that haven’t been overlooked.
The signing of players like Coutinho, Boubacar Kamara and Lucas Digne probably wouldn’t have happened without him but they’re all part of this struggling side because of decisions that he is making.
But there is only so much Gerrard can do, because he isn’t the one on the pitch and it’s time for the players to take some accountability and responsibility too.
Coutinho must do better when he does play, but Gerrard can take that out of his hands by dropping the players that are underperforming and using his whole squad too. Carragher is correct though, it’s certainly not all on Gerrard.
The City game at the weekend will make it incredibly tough to pick up any points, but if the club are to stay patient with the manager then he must respond by making tough decisions himself and being ruthless.
In other Aston Villa news, Tyrone Mings must start to mark Erling Haaland against Manchester City