Aston Villa manager Roberto Di Matteo is under pressure after a poor start to the season.
Aston Villa manager Roberto Di Matteo
After an appalling Premier League campaign that saw Aston Villa relegated last season, Villa’s start to the Championship hasn’t got off to the best start, so what’s gone wrong at the club?
Roberto Di Matteo’s side currently sit 17th in the league, taking just nine points from nine games. Any hope of promotion so far looks slim.
When Di Matteo joined the club in June, the Italian was fully aware of the dire situation he was inheriting. The 46-year-old has been given all the tools required to make a decent start, Di Matteo has his own coaching staff and has had money to spend to help revamp the squad. Despite this, the squad have not adapted to the manager’s style of play.
One problem Di Matteo needs to address is his formation; he needs to go back to an attacking style. The current play of 5-2-3 is clearly not working and needs to be changed.
Aston Villa’s drew 1-1 with Newcastle last Saturday
With that said, Villa need stability – last season former owner Randy Lerner was quick to sack Tim Sherword and Remi Garde – chopping and changing is not good for the club and that was proven over the last 12 months. Di Matteo needs more time to prove to fans that he can bring success to the club, considering the Italian manager has a proven track record in the Championship after guiding West Brom to promotion to the top flight in 2010. If impatient supporters win, then Villa will be back to square one.
Villa are creating chances, there has also been times where chances have simply not been taken. Di Matteo is deploying a system that is clearly creating enough, but players need to learn to be more clinical in front of goal. Similarly, at the back, the players must take responsibility for the sloppy mistakes that are being made which have cost the team crucial goals.
It’s an important week for the manager – Villa will travel to Barnsley tonight and Preston on Saturday. It’s vital that Villa can pick up some points; otherwise it could mark the end of Di Matteo’s time at Villa.
Aston Villa’s Rudy Gestede in action with Newcastle’s Jamaal Lascelles
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