Gerard Houllier: I was only joking when I said losing 3-0 at Liverpool was OK

08 December 2010 12:09
Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier has been forced to clarify remarks made after Monday's 3-0 defeat at Liverpool that infuriated many of the club's fans.[LNB]On message boards and forums yesterday, Villa supporters turned on Houllier whose side have lost four successive matches, including a run of three in the Barclays Premier League.[LNB]Speaking in the wake of the latest loss at former club Liverpool at Anfield, Houllier said: 'If I have got to lose 3-0, I would prefer it to be to them as I like Liverpool.'[LNB] Thanks a lot: Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier applauds the Liverpool fans before the 3-0 defeat[LNB]It was a remark that did not go down well with Villa fans who felt it was a betrayal of the club he is currently managing.[LNB]That has prompted a reply from Houllier who wrote on the official club website: 'To the fans who travelled to Liverpool and to all Villa supporters, let me assure that we are working as hard as we possibly can to achieve the level of success which this great club aspires to.[LNB]'Everybody is hurting because of recent results and I and my staff are working on putting this right.[LNB] First blood: David Ngog puts Liverpool en route to a 3-0 defeat of Villa[LNB]'No-one likes to lose 3-0 against any team and, if comments I made in the immediate aftermath of our defeat by Liverpool have been misconstrued - comments which were intended to be humorous, by the way - let me put them into context.[LNB]'The experiences I enjoyed with Liverpool some years ago will always stay with me, as will many experiences I have had in football both before and since, and I have taken all these experiences into my job as manager of Aston Villa.[LNB]'I understand the fans' feelings of hurt and disappointment at the moment - I am hurting as much as anybody, believe me - and I say emphatically that we will battle through.[LNB] Happy return: Liverpool fans hold up a banner as a tribute to their former manager Gerard Houllier [LNB]'Building lasting success at Aston Villa is my focus and my commitment to this challenge is resolute.[LNB]'It is down to us collectively as a club to work hard to bring joy and success to the fans because the fans are the most important.[LNB]'They are passionate, vocal and fantastic, which I stated when I first came here. They know we are in this together and their support will be vital on Saturday for our game against West Bromwich Albion.'[LNB] Hands off: Boro to offer keeper Steele new five-year deal to ward off ArsenalJuventus prepared to let Sissoko go to Aston Villa but giants will ask for £6mMan City and Aston Villa ready to battle for Watford keeping sensation LoachDowning tells Aston Villa to stand up and fight after Liverpool humblingLiverpool 3 Aston Villa 0: Hard labour for former boss Houllier at AnfieldRoy's delight as Babel finds form as Liverpool stroll to win over woeful VillaASTON VILLA FC

Source: Daily_Mail