The former Aston Villa striker believes that the Italian was always going to need time to settle the team.
Dean Saunders
Former Aston Villa player Dean Saunders has had his say on the problems that Roberto Di Matteo must have faced at the club – in conversation with talkSPORT earlier today (14/10/16).
Villa recently decided that their poor start to the season was down to the manager and Di Matteo was relieved of his duties before the international break.
He has since been replaced by Steve Bruce, an appointment Saunders agrees with.
Aston Villa manager Roberto Di Matteo
However, the former Welsh international, who spent three successful seasons at Villa Park, believes Di Matteo should have been given more time to be a success at the club considering the situation he inherited at Villa Park:
“Di Matteo has walked into that club and there will be three different groups of players, that he’s trying to bond together.
“There’s a group of players that haven’t done very well and they know you’re trying to get rid of them. So there not motivated.
Roberto Di Matteo poses
“Then you’ve got a group of players who think they should be in the Premier League. So they’re waiting for a club to come in for them.
“Then you bring your new players in.
“You’re trying to get that group knitted together to get a winning start in the Championship.”
There is no doubt that the Aston Villa job is a unique opportunity but it also seems to be therowing up some equally as unique problems.
New Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce during the press conference
Saunders makes a valid point about the player situation that the Italian had to deal with at Villa Park and now Bruce is likely to find himself with the same situation now he is the man in charge.
Hopefully he will be able to find the right solution to the problem and get Aston Villa climbing up the Championship table.
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