Interim Boss Shaun Goater Stresses Immediate Need for Results at Aston Villa

Interim Aston Villa manager Shaun Goater has stated that the club “needs to get results immediately” in the wake of manager Robert de Pauw’s dismissal. Goater previously served as a coach for Manchester City Women. Currently, Villa occupies ninth place in the Women’s Super League standings, having secured only one victory in nine matches, placing them a single point clear of the relegation zone. Goater remarked, “We need to get results. This is our time. Everyone wants time, but in this situation here, we need to get results immediately.” He further elaborated, “It’s a must-win because of where we are in the table. As a club, the aspirations are to be higher up and we’ve not had the start of the season we would have liked. We use the term ‘must-win’ and it is because we are better than we are. Therefore we need to show that, play with confidence and start to get results.” Goater indicated that De Pauw’s exit was unexpected on the day it occurred, but he affirmed his “belief” in the team’s players. He added, “We are in a business of football where sometimes these things happen. On the day and when things unfolded, yes, I was surprised.” “At the same time, the staff all got together and we made sure the players were right. That has been our intentions ever since,” Goater stated. He continued, “I don’t know if a change [of manager] was needed, I just think in both boxes it needs to change. The responsibility is now on the players. They know that and understand that. All eyes are on them. The belief is in the players and we look forward to this game so we can start to perhaps get some momentum and start winning.” Additional key statements from Goater’s news conference, held prior to Sunday’s Women’s Super League fixture against West Ham, scheduled for a 14:00 GMT kick-off, are as follows: Goater emphasized the “really important” role of his senior players in demonstrating leadership during this transitional phase. He will be responsible for selecting the team for Sunday’s match against West Ham and will be present on the touchline, aiming to instill “calmness” among the players. Goater believes his past experiences as a player and a former assistant coach at Manchester City will be beneficial, as he encourages his squad to “play the Villa way.” He concluded, “I have within me, from those experiences, a fight to work until the end. In all fairness, we have that in abundance.”