Steve Bruce has made a flying start to life as Aston Villa boss.
Aston Villa midfielder Mile Jedinak has told the club’s official website that the players are being asked to ‘work as a unit’ under new manager Steve Bruce.
Villa’s dismal start to the season – just one win in the first 11 games of the campaign – led to Roberto Di Matteo’s exit, but replacement Bruce has made a superb start to life at Villa Park.
In his five games in charge of the club, Bruce has guided Villa to three wins and two draws, with Villa now sitting just five points outside the Championship play-off places.
Aston Villa’s Mile Jedinak
It’s been a remarkable turnaround for Villa; from looking a complete shambles in Di Matteo’s final game, a 2-0 defeat at Preston, to grinding out results, such as last weekend’s 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers, where Villa had to come from behind to win.
Villa now have the international break to recharge their batteries ahead of the trip to face Brighton and Hove Albion a week on Friday – a real test of Villa’s improvement under Bruce given that the Seagulls sit second in the Championship.
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce
With the international break upon us, midfielder Mile Jedinak has taken the time to comment on life under Bruce, and how things are changing under the new boss.
Jedinak, speaking to Villa’s official website, revealed that the players have been asked to ‘work as a unit, both with and without the ball’, something they didn’t appear to be doing under Di Matteo.
The Australian added that it’s pivotal that Villa continue to do what’s asked of them under Bruce if they want to move up the Championship table and towards the top six.
Aston Villa’s Mile Jedinak looks dejected
“As a collective we’ve been able to nail our jobs down and see games through and get the job done,” said Jedinak. “As a group we’ve been asked to work as a unit both with and without the ball, certain aspects like that and it’s evident in the way we train, maybe not so evident in the first half against Blackburn but maybe more in the second half where we got around them and started the play through them.”
“That’s the sort of stuff that’s been asked of us. I think it’s vital and pivotal that we continue to do that going forward. As a group and as a unit we’ve done what’s asked of us of late and we all have to continue to do that if we’re going to try and get to where we want to get and keep climbing up that ladder,” he added.
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