New Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard has admitted he is taking a gamble by accepting the Aston Villa job.
The former England and Liverpool captain who begins his Villa tenure with a game against Brighton this Saturday left Rangers last week to sign a three-and-a-half-year deal at Villa Park.
Speaking to the club’s official TV station, Gerrard admitted that he likes to the risks and is already targeting victory on his return to Anfield on December 11.
“I like a challenge, I like a risk,” said Gerrard.
“I was first aware of the interest last Wednesday and I wanted it to happen quickly. My stomach has been doing somersaults. The excitement levels are very high.
“This club will suit me because the fans are passionate. There’s a pressure here to win, which I’ve lived with since I was 17. It’s about making everyone come together. I believe we can do exciting things.
“Nobody will be able to control the noise (around the Liverpool game) but it’s not important. It’s a chance to go to Anfield and take three points.
“Now everything I give daily will be for Aston Villa. One thing I can guarantee fans, players and staff is when I commit to something, I’m all in.”
Gerrard brought his trusted backroom team with him from Rangers and is expected to retain coaches Austin MacPhee, Aaron Danks and Neil Cutler from Dean Smith’s staff.
The 41-year-old admits that his priority will be to improve a defence that leaked 13 goals in their last five games before Dean Smith was sacked.
“One thing I’d like to improve on is the structure of the team from a defensive point of view,” he added.
“Out of possession, our distances and our shape, and what we do to regain the ball. That’s very important to me. I’ve been very lucky to learn from some world-class managers.
“It’s got to be a no-excuses, no-blame culture. It’s down to me and my staff to install a new way of playing; an identity.
“There is a lot of talent in the squad but we haven’t got much time so it’s very important that the players listen and are focused.”
