Steven Gerrard opens up on Aston Villa sacking and dressing-room split

Steven Gerrard has spoken candidly about his short and turbulent spell as Aston Villa head coach, admitting he was left “disappointed and upset” by how it ended — while also pointing the finger at a “core group of players” he believes undermined his tenure.

In exclusive comments reflecting on his dismissal in October 2022, Gerrard revisited the decisions, mistakes and dressing-room dynamics that contributed to his downfall during an 11-month stint in the West Midlands.

The Liverpool legend replaced Dean Smith at Villa Park in November 2021, arriving with significant expectations after winning the Scottish Premiership with Rangers. Gerrard’s reign began positively, with three wins from his first four matches, and he eventually guided Villa to a 14th-place finish in his first season.

Backed heavily in the summer of 2022, Villa invested in players such as Diego Carlos, Philippe Coutinho and Boubacar Kamara ahead of the 2022/23 campaign. Gerrard believed the club were ready to push on.

“Going into the second season, I’m thinking: we’ve taken Villa from 17th to seventh, eighth, ninth,” Gerrard said while speaking on TNT Sports’ Ally’s Social Club.
“We’re in a good place. We’ve made three or four really strong signings. Let’s go for top ten.”

That optimism quickly evaporated. Villa won just two of their opening 12 Premier League matches, with performances deteriorating sharply. Gerrard was eventually sacked following a damaging 3-0 defeat away at Fulham, leaving the club 17th in the table.

Reflecting on that run, Gerrard admitted he lost control of the situation.

“We started the season really badly. We lost 2–0 to Bournemouth — tactically poor, players didn’t turn up,” he said.

“When we lost momentum towards the end of October, I didn’t feel like I could pull it back. I felt like I’d changed the dynamics and upset too many people in the dressing room too quickly.”

Perhaps the most revealing part of Gerrard’s reflection was his claim that a section of the squad disengaged from the coaching staff.

“I think there was a core group of players in the dressing room who pulled away from us as a staff,” he said. “And interestingly enough, none of those players are in and around the starting eleven now.”

While Gerrard did not name individuals, he was keen to stress that many players he worked with deserved praise rather than criticism.

Despite the painful ending, Gerrard spoke warmly about Aston Villa as a club and highlighted several players he believes epitomised professionalism.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for the fans, the club, the ground, the history,” he said.
“Some of the players we worked with were top, top players. John McGinn — a manager’s dream. Matty Cash. Ollie Watkins — top, top kids.”

Gerrard also suggested Watkins still has another level to reach with greater consistency, while praising signings like Lucas Digne and Kamara as strong additions during his reign.

Now out of work after leaving Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq earlier this year, Gerrard acknowledged that the manner of his Villa exit ultimately fell on his shoulders.

“Yes, I was really disappointed and upset with how Villa finished,” he admitted.
“But totally deserved it with the last run of results, for sure. And that was on me. That was on me.”

Gerrard’s comments strike a rare balance between accountability and explanation. He accepts blame for results while also shedding light on internal challenges that are often left unsaid.

Having followed Aston Villa closely through that period, his admission about dressing-room dynamics aligns with how quickly momentum turned. Whether Gerrard will get another Premier League opportunity remains to be seen, but this reflection suggests a manager still learning — and one keen to correct past mistakes.

After time away from English football, Gerrard is expected to remain open to new opportunities, potentially abroad or back in the Premier League if the right project emerges. His Villa reflections may serve as both closure — and a warning — ahead of his next managerial chapter.

👉 Villa fans — do Gerrard’s comments change how you view his spell at the club?