Dion Dublin was critical of Philippe Coutinho’s performance during Aston Villa’s shock 2-1 defeat to League Two Stevenage in the third-round of the FA Cup on Sunday.
The former Villa striker says Coutinho ‘didn’t do enough’ for Unai Emery’s side and the 30-year-old might not be too happy, as he still searches for his first goal and assist of the season, as he told BBC Sport.
Last January, with Steven Gerrard in the dugout, Villa secured the talents of Coutinho and it lifted the club, including the player scoring on his debut against Manchester United.
But that goal is not only a far cry from that moment, but the player that once repped Liverpool and Barcelona.
Coutinho did get on the ball during the game, but his issue was that he continued to boot the ball into the stands after trying shot and shot from outside of the area.
Whilst the Brazil international looked like a shadow of the player at Villa Park against a League Two side, Dublin thinks there is still ‘plenty of life left in Coutinho’.
“He didn’t do enough for me,” said Dublin. “Listen, we are always going to say ‘he didn’t do enough’ because he is so good and he has the potential to be so good.
“But he wasn’t very effective today, I would say. Not very effective at all. Expected more and I wanted more.
“I signed for Villa at 30, so there is plenty of life left in Coutinho yet. He might not be too happy, at the moment, but I think it’s all about application and it’s all about body language. It’s all about playing for the team.”
COUTINHO HEADING FOR THE EXIT DOOR?
There has been talk about Coutinho’s future heading into the January transfer window. It even saw the player come out and debunk claims he wants to leave.
But the reality is that he is nowhere near the standards he once was, not even for a Villa team in midtable.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if Emery parts ways with the former Liverpool star this month and his own new faces are brought in.
Villa deserved their defeat to Stevenage in the FA Cup because, not only were they sloppy, but they also played without any energy and bite.
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