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‘Pre-lockdown we weren’t as fit as we could have been, or should have been’: Aston Villa boss Dean Smith admits he did not expect Premier League relegation battle this season
- Dean Smith believes his Aston Villa players have not been fit enough this season
- But Smith believes his players have been particularly unlucky with injuries
- Tom Heaton, Douglas Luiz and Wesley have been notable absentees in 2019-20
- Jack Grealish is set to face Manchester United on Thursday despite calf trouble
Dean Smith has made the remarkable admission that Aston Villa have not been fit enough for the majority of the Premier League season.
Villa face an uphill struggle to avoid making an immediate return to the Championship – they are four points adrift of safety ahead of Thursday’s clash with Manchester United, who have won four and drawn one of their last five matches.
Smith’s job was on the line after a 4-0 defeat at Leicester on March 9. That was Villa’s last league fixture for more than three months after the coronavirus pandemic halted professional football in England until mid-June.
Aston Villa boss Dean Smith has revealed he expected improved fitness levels from his squad
Smith admitted he had expected Villa to perform better this season but believes that only now have they reached the required level of fitness to compete in the top flight.
He said: ‘The fitness levels have been a big one just felt pre-lockdown we weren’t as fit as we could have been, or should have been.
‘But a lot of that was down to the fact Douglas Luiz came in [shortly before the season started], Marvelous Nakamba took a while, Matt Targett took a while. We had a lot of changes during the summer and to get them up to speed has taken time.
Smith believes his Aston Villa players have been particularly unlucky with injuries this term
‘I thought we would have a little bit more [than fighting relegation] if I’m honest. I didn’t think we would be a top six team. I knew it would be tough.
‘We’ve also experienced some big injuries during the season as well that have hampered us. To lose (goalkeeper) Tom Heaton and (centre-forward) Wesley on New Year’s Day was a massive blow.
‘To lose Tyrone Mings against Leicester, to lose John McGinn against Southampton. We lost some of our big players and didn’t handle it well enough at the time.’
Villa are without a home win over United in 25 years. Captain Jack Grealish, a transfer target for United, is expected to play despite calf trouble.
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