Aston Villa Manager Robert de Pauw Addresses Performance Pressure

Robert de Pauw, who spent two seasons at Bayer Leverkusen before joining Aston Villa, stated his awareness that clubs “cut off the head of the manager” when performance expectations are not met. Appointed in June following Carla Ward’s departure at the close of last season, De Pauw is yet to secure his inaugural victory in the Women’s Super League (WSL). Aston Villa currently occupies 10th place in the standings with two points from six matches, marking their least successful start to a WSL campaign. “It’s also football and a performance-driven company. So yeah, they cut off the head of the manager,” De Pauw commented. The Dutch manager has recorded only one competitive win across his seven games leading Villa: a 2-0 triumph against Crystal Palace in the Women’s League Cup. Nevertheless, his team has played closely contested matches against reigning champions Chelsea and league leaders Manchester City, suffering narrow one-goal defeats in both encounters. “If the performance drops and the results don’t come, then you know what happens,” De Pauw further stated. “I try to stay unattached to that because I know I can look myself in the mirror and the staff can look themselves in the mirror, that we do everything about it. “We know we work hard and we leave no stone unturned before every game.”” De Pauw, who is new to the league after departing Bayer Leverkusen at the conclusion of last season, mentioned consulting with seasoned players such as Jordan Nobbs regarding the challenges of the WSL. “I speak a lot with them because they know this league better than than most. “Jordan knows it better than everybody, and she says it will come. So I trust also that it will come, but it has to come soon.”” Aston Villa aims to conclude their winless streak this Sunday when they visit Manchester United, a team that remains undefeated in the league this season. “That’s the next step we have got to take, to take something from the game and not only rattle the cage, but bring the cage home and bring the points home,” De Pauw stated.