Houllier Clarifies After Match Comments

Gerard Houllier has released a statement on the Official Site tonight, addressing the anger caused by his comments after the Liverpool clash last night.

Click Here for full statement.

Opening his statement Houllier reassures fans that he, and his staff, are working as hard as possible to rectify the errors that we keep seeing on the pitch that are losing us points in games. He also assures us that everybody associated with the club are 'hurting' over recent results and with a bit of patience they will get it right.

'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 - let me put them into context. 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 the experiences into my job as manager of Aston Villa.

'I understand the fas' 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. Building last success at Aston Villa is my focus and my commitment to this challenge is resolute.'

He ends the statement by saying:

'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. They are passionate, vocal and fantastic, which I stated when I first came here.'

Finally he states that we are all in this together, and calls on the fans to be in fine voice as we face Albion at the weekend, describing the support as 'vital' to our chances of success in the game.

Be interesting to see whether this alters any of the anger that has filled the site today and late last night.

No direct apology, nor a clarification if truth be told sadly though. The context of the comment that invoked the most ire was clear from the full quotes on the Liverpool Official Site although it does appear many fans have taken the comment in isolation and formed their opinion on that, but I'd be surprised if this statement does anything to rectify the damage caused originally by the daft and innocent comment in question.

Vital Villa on:

Vital Villa on:

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.