Aston Villa defender Frederic Guilbert has wished Dean Smith ‘all the best’ on his Instagram story after he was appointed Norwich City manager on Monday.
The right-back is currently out on loan at Strasbourg after Smith felt that he wasn’t good enough to be part of the Villa squad this season.
This was the second time that Smith loaned out the 26-year-old, despite Villa not having a bonafide back-up right-back, with Matty Cash the only one leading that line.
Nonetheless, the Frenchman showcased his class by posting this message on his Instagram story to his now-former manager getting a new job: “Good luck gaffer. All the best.”
It just goes to show how the crazy football world works because Smith has gone from wanting to prepare Villa for their home tie to Brighton this Saturday, to now preparing Norwich for a home clash against Southampton.
Ironically enough, it was the defeat against the Saints that ended the final chapter of Smith’s reign at Villa Park.
And now Smith probably becomes the first man in history to face a side with two different teams within the next gameweek.
As for Guilbert, he is still out in France and it will be interesting to see if Steven Gerrard brings him back to the club in January.
Whilst Cash has been a standout player for Villa this season, it’s the likes of Axel Tuanzebe and Ezri Konsa who are his back-up, so from that sense, he will probably need to return.
And if he does, then this will be a great chance for him to prove his worth and try to get his Villa career back on track.
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