2013-04-16 10:05:26 +02:00

453 lines
16 KiB
Plaintext
Executable File

sport
football
teams
aston-villa
8182450
-----
# Aston Villa manager Grard Houllier will return to Anfield to face his old
club Liverpool with head held high
## Gerard Houllier will return to Anfield on Monday evening for the first
time as a Premier League manager since he was dismissed by Liverpool six years
ago.
![Grard Houllier - Aston Villa manager Grard Houllier will return to face his
old club LIverpool with his head held high][1]
Looking back: Grard Houllier is proud of his Liverpool past Photo: AFP
[![Sandy Macaskill][2]][3]
By [Sandy Macaskill][4] 7:00AM GMT 06 Dec 2010
[Follow Sandy Macaskill on Twitter][5]
[Comments][6]
The Frenchman, now in charge at **[Aston Villa][7]**, will walk towards the
tunnel and out onto the pitch, perhaps touching the 'This is Anfield' sign on
the way, and it will be, he insists, with his head held high.
Since arriving at Villa in September, the 63 year-old has had an aversion to
talking about the past. The exception to the rule is **[Liverpool][8]**, where
Houllier was manager from 1998-2004, and where despite never winning the
title, he believes he achieved the three main targets of a football manager.
He said: "I always think the mission of a manager is threefold. The first is
to win a trophy and have silverware and win titles and so on -- so we did
that. The second is to leave a legacy. I would just use my former chairman's
words. He said: 'You put the club into the 21st century'.'
"[My] legacy is also the team because the team that was left with Rafa
[Benitez] won the **[Champions League][9]** the following year. So that means
we finished in a position to play in the Champions League. We also had new
facilities and maybe a new style of professionalism I would say.
"The third mission of a manager is to make your players improve, both as
players and men. We had a Ballon d'Or with Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard is a
world-class international player. All the players, whether it's Danny Murphy
or Emile Heskey of Stephane Henchoz or Sami Hyypia, they all became better
players."
## Related Articles
* [Hodgson puts faith in youngsters][10]
06 Dec 2010
* [Comolli seeks window of opportunity][11]
04 Dec 2010
* [Damian Comolli a big cog in Anfield revolution][12]
04 Dec 2010
* [Gerrard on course to return][13]
03 Dec 2010
* [Liverpool v Aston Villa: match preview][14]
03 Dec 2010
* [Liverpool v Aston Villa: as it happened][15]
06 Dec 2010
When Houllier left, he remarked that a man might leave Liverpool, but
Liverpool never leaves the man. Intriguingly he now says that he could not
judge whether Liverpool remain such a special club after six years under the
management of Benitez, and three years under the ownership of Tom Hicks and
George Gillett.
"I can't answer that," he said. "Not because I don't want to, but because I
don't have the elements of answering it. I've not been inside the club.
Obviously, things have probably changed in six years. The team would be
totally different this time. I don't know exactly what's going on."
What is going on is that Liverpool are 10 points outside what they would
regard as their rightful space in the top four and searching for identity
under Roy Hodgson, a friend of Houllier's ever since they met at a French
indoor tournament in the mid-1980s.
Houllier can appreciate the pressure, but advises patience. "Give him a bit of
time, he needs to change a few things. The problem is at Liverpool, when you
lose, it's a crisis."
With the relegation zone too close for comfort, you could say it is the same
for Villa on Monday evening. But Houllier says that losing to some teams is to
be expected -- "you lose to Tottenham, OK" -- and he suggested that Liverpool,
despite their problems, fall in the same category. "It's Liverpool," he said.
"I saw them play against West Ham the other week. They are back. We need to
give them a game."
Does he expect to win? "If you look at our away record, it will be difficult
to feel that way." One wonders what Villa supporters, who care little for
Houllier's legacy at Liverpool, make of that.
Their hopes of rectifying that record were damaged after it emerged that
centre-back James Collins will not be available to play at Anfield. The
Welshman was hurried back from a calf injury to face Birmingham City in the
Carling Cup in midweek and has incurred further damage. His absence means that
the chances of Villa keeping their first clean sheet in six matches are
decidedly slim.
Houllier already has a number of injuries to contend with and could be forced
to ask Ciaran Clark, a centre-back by trade but currently deployed in the
midfield, to fill the breach.
There are also suggestions that Houllier has issued his players with a strict
new code of conduct, which includes banning them from using mobile telephones
at their Bodymoor Heath training complex.
**Three buys to remember ... and three to forget **
**To remember **
**Gary McAllister**
The shrewdest of free transfers. Played key role in 2001 'treble'.
**Sami Hyypia**
Unheralded when he arrived from Willem II but went on to make more than 400
appearances.
**Jerzy Dudek**
Plucked from Feyenoord to replace Sander Westerveld as No 1. Went on to become
a hero of Istanbul.
**To forget**
**Djimi Traore**
So bad even his own fans mocked him in song.
**Salif Diao**
Explains why 'World Cup' signings are so dangerous.
**Bruno Cheyrou**
A £3.4m signing who cost £740,000 per goal.
[X][16] Share & bookmark
Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter
Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! Buzz
[What are these?][17]
* Share: [Share][16] [ ][18] [ ][19]
[Tweet][20]
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/8182450/Aston-
Villa-manager-Gerard-Houllier-will-return-to-Anfield-to-face-his-old-club-
Liverpool-with-head-held-high.html
Telegraph
## [Aston Villa][7]
* ### [Sport »][21]
* ### [Football »][22]
* ### [Premier League »][23]
* ### [Liverpool »][8]
* ### [Football News »][24]
Related Partners
* [Aston Villa Tickets][25]
In sport
[![Follow Telegraph Sport on Twitter][26]][27]
### [Follow Telegraph Sport on Twitter][27]
[X][16] Share & bookmark
Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter
Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! Buzz
[What are these?][17]
Share:
* [ ][16]
* [ ][18]
* [ ][19]
* [Tweet][20]
* ## [Aston Villa Action Photos »][28]
Aston Villa action photos: The best full-colour action images for Aston Villa
Football Club.
Advertisement
![][29]
telegraphuk
Please enable JavaScript to view the [comments powered by Disqus.][30] [blog
comments powered by Disqus][31]
## [Aston Villa »][32]
[![Aston Villa][33]][7]
[Aston Villa Fixtures][34]
[Aston Villa Results][35]
[Aston Villa Action Photos][28]
[Aston Villa Players][36]
[Aston Villa Statistics][37]
[Aston Villa Tickets][25]
Advertisement
[PREMIER LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS »][38]
Advertisement
Classified Advertising
* [Engineering Jobs][39]
* [Cars][40]
* [Games][41]
Loading
[Find your ideal job with Telegraph Jobs][42]
var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid = "663501"; var headline
= "ENGINEERING MANAGER, KENT"; var description = "Kent £60000 - £65000"; var
link = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/663501/permanent/kent/engineering-
manager-kent-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=663501"; var imageUrl =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/B6/46/B6E34F1D-0404-41A1-A940-BAC94E2BB846_
140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid =
"669090"; var headline = "Engineering Opportunities with e2v"; var description
= "United Kingdom On Application"; var link =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/669090/permanent/united-kingdom/engineering-
opportunities-with-e2v-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=669090"; var
imageUrl = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/E7/29/E72B0493-713D-4FD9-95DC-
C57D0699BF29_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid =
"670674"; var headline = "Graduate Recruitment"; var description =
"Lancashire, Belfast, Isle of Man On Application"; var link =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/670674/permanent/lancashire-belfast-isle-of-
man/graduate-recruitment-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=670674"; var
imageUrl = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/48/EC/483698DD-
7BDF-4023-97B3-12F0E6A45AEC_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3";
puffArray.push({'id':guid, 'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description,
'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl, 'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray =
eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid = "673197"; var headline = "Head of
Tunnels and Structures"; var description = "London On Application"; var link =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/673197/permanent/london/head-of-tunnels-and-
structures-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=673197"; var imageUrl =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/DC/C4/DC97BBEE-5BEE-4B8F-808F-
5F406B9EA5C4_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid =
"669239"; var headline = "Chief Engineer - Strategic Programmes"; var
description = "Chelsmford On Application"; var link =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/669239/permanent/chelsmford/chief-engineer-
strategic-programmes-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=669239"; var
imageUrl = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/E7/29/E72B0493-713D-4FD9-95DC-
C57D0699BF29_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid =
"668730"; var headline = "Instrumentation and Control Engineer"; var
description = "Berkshire On Application"; var link =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/668730/permanent/berkshire/instrumentation-
and-control-engineer-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=668730"; var
imageUrl = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/67/C1/67297E9F-24CA-4855-ABCA-
E1BA0C66D3C1_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid =
"669237"; var headline = "Power Electronics System Design & Test Engineer";
var description = "Chelmsford On Application"; var link =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/669237/permanent/chelmsford/power-
electronics-system-design-test-engineer-job-
vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=669237"; var imageUrl =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/E7/29/E72B0493-713D-4FD9-95DC-
C57D0699BF29_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid =
"670248"; var headline = "Engineering Management Positions"; var description =
"United Arab Emirates On Application"; var link =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/670248/permanent/united-arab-emirates
/engineering-management-positions-job-
vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=670248"; var imageUrl =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/_resx/images/TGJobs-logo_140x87-v2.gif"; var
adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid, 'headline':headline,
'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl, 'weight':adWeight});
var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid = "669475"; var headline
= "FEA Engineer"; var description = "Stonehouse On Application"; var link =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/669475/permanent/stonehouse/fea-engineer-job-
vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=669475"; var imageUrl =
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/F4/1C/F4E5E3E5-E431-4211-8E3F-
FE8AA4CCE91C_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
'weight':adWeight});
[1]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01778/gerard-
houllier_1778407c.jpg
[2]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01824/Sandy-
Macaskill_60_1824325j.jpg
[3]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/sandy-macaskill/
[4]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/sandy-macaskill/ (Sandy
Macaskill)
[5]: http://twitter.com/sandydoessport
[6]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/8182450
/Aston-Villa-manager-Gerard-Houllier-will-return-to-Anfield-to-face-his-old-
club-Liverpool-with-head-held-high.html#disqus_thread
[7]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/
[8]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/
[9]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions-
league/
[10]: /sport/football/teams/liverpool/8182465/Liverpool-manager-Roy-
Hodgson-puts-faith-in-youngsters.html
[11]: /sport/football/teams/liverpool/8181644/Damien-Comolli-is-seeking-a
-window-of-opportunity-at-Liverpool.html
[12]: /sport/football/teams/liverpool/8181221/Damien-Comolli-believes-he-
has-a-winning-long-term-strategy-for-Liverpool.html
[13]: /sport/football/teams/liverpool/8180348/Liverpool-captain-Steven-
Gerrard-remains-on-course-to-return-against-Newcastle-despite-injury-
scare.html
[14]: /sport/football/competitions/premier-league/7943716/Liverpool-v
-Aston-Villa-match-preview.html
[15]: /sport/football/competitions/premier-league/7943717/Liverpool-v
-Aston-Villa-as-it-happened.html
[16]: #
[17]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/4590190/Share-this-
article-What-are-these.html
[18]: mailto:?subject=A Telegraph reader thought you would be interested in
this article&body=Depending on your email program, you may be able to click on
the link in the email. Alternatively, you may have to open a web browser, such
as Firefox or Internet Explorer, and copy the link over into the address bar.
%0A%0Ahttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/8182450
/Aston-Villa-manager-Gerard-Houllier-will-return-to-Anfield-to-face-his-old-
club-Liverpool-with-head-held-high.html %0A%0AFor the best content online,
visit www.telegraph.co.uk
[19]: javascript:print()
[20]: http://twitter.com/share?via=Telegraph
[21]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/
[22]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/
[23]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-
league/
[24]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/news/
[25]: http://tickets.telegraph.co.uk/aston-villa-tickets
[26]:
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01838/newtwit_1838978g.jpg
[27]: http://twitter.com/#!/TelegraphSport
[28]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/aston
villa/5036725/Aston-Villa-Football-Club-Action-Photos.html
[29]: http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/imp.gif?client=ca-
telegraph_uk_420x200&event=noscript
[30]: http://disqus.com/?ref_noscript=telegraphuk
[31]: http://disqus.com
[32]:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/astonvilla/
[33]:
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01505/Aston_Villa_1505554h.jpg
[34]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/4942702
/Aston-Villa-Football-Club-Fixtures.html
[35]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/4942457
/Aston-Villa-Football-Club-Results.html
[36]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/5037767
/Aston-Villa-Football-Club-Players.html
[37]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/4942825
/Aston-Villa-Football-Club-Statistics.html
[38]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-
league/8229445/Barclays-Premier-League-video-highlights.html
[39]: #configurableTab_8257595
[40]: #configurableTab_8120678
[41]: #configurableTab_8255335
[42]: http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/?utm_source=TMG&utm_medium=CS&utm_campaig
n=jobslink