Remi Garde says bust-up with Aston Villa fans a reality check for players
Friday 15 January 2016 13:45, UK
Remi Garde has admitted the row with Aston Villa fans at Wycombe let the players know just how upset supporters are.
Brad Guzan, Joleon Lescott and Micah Richards were all involved in heated exchanges with away fans during and after Villa's 1-1 FA Cup third round draw at Adams Park.
And Garde - whose side are seven points adrift at the bottom of the Premier League - believes the bust-up provided a timely reality check to his players
"Yes I think maybe it did," he said. "We live and train far away from fans and sometimes you need to touch the reality - and maybe it could have had an impact on the last game (Tuesday's 1-0 win against Crystal Palace).
"But I don't condone some of the fans' bad behaviour."
Garde also revealed he has informed the Villa board of the players he wants to sign in the January transfer window - but refused to name any potential targets.
"The board know what I want," he said. "I have been here for two months and identified the strengths and weaknesses here.
"I haven't signed players yet but there is still time to go but it's useless for me - and won't help me - to talk about individual targets."
Aston Villa welcome high-flying Leicester City to Villa Park this weekend buoyed by their midweek victory over Palace - and Garde believes his team are capable of avenging their 3-2 defeat at the King Power Stadium earlier this season.
"To beat them this weekend would be a big boost for us," he added.
"The last victory over Palace gave us more confidence. I was very happy for the players on the pitch. I felt something different from the other games."
