Aston Villa: former Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor wants to see new boss Steven Gerrard take Villa into Europe

As news emerged that Steven Gerrard has been announced as the new manager of Aston Villa, just three days after Dean Smith was sacked, Gabby Agbonlahor has high hopes that the former Liverpool captain can take Villa into Europe.

Speaking on TalkSport, Agbonlahor clearly stated what he wants and expects of Gerrard.

Gerrard has been bought in as Villa are on a downward spiral. After a 1-0 away defeat to Southampton that marked their fifth loss in a row, Dean Smith was sacked.

Early expectations are fairly low for Gerrard, just a season on from when he took his Rangers team unbeaten as they romped home to secure a 55th top league title in Scotland, and their first for 10 years.

“I think he just needs to go in, and get these players playing, get the signings firing and just try and finish the season top 10” said Agbonlahor.

The 35-year-old spent 13 years at Aston Villa, scoring 76 goals in 341 appearances across the Premier League and Championship.

The striker and winger formed a memorable partnership with John Carew as Villa threatened the already-established top four, and has laid out the vision that Villa can realistically have. “Take top 10 this season, and then push on again next season, maybe be able to bring in a couple of players, change and get rid of a few players and start looking to get Villa into that top six”

That seems like a remarkable challenge, as it was only in June 2020 that Villa almost went down on the final day.

“The top six, that’s where the owners want to be. You know, they’re bringing Gerrard in, that will be the plan over the next two or three years, challenging to get into European places”.

The aura around Villa is now they can push on, perhaps things were becoming a bit stale, a tad stagnant under Smith and Gerrard arrives with a lot of expectation after emerging as a bright, homegrown talent since he took the helm at Rangers.

Agbonlahor went on to say: “For Gerrard, Villa’s a bigger job than Rangers, every manager wants to manage in the Premier League, I think it’s the perfect club and time for him”

The former England & Liverpool captain leaves Rangers as current champions, and four points clear of bitter rivals, Celtic.