Remi Garde could look to sports psychologist for help to end Aston Villa run
Monday 11 January 2016 07:35, UK
Remi Garde admits he may have to think about turning to a sports psychologist to try and turn around Aston Villa's fortunes.
Garde has avoided such help so far in his managerial career, but accepts he may be forced into a rethink if Villa's awful run of form continues for much longer.
Villa are winless in 16 matches after Saturday's 1-1 FA Cup third round draw at League Two side Wycombe, with Garde accountable for 10 of those games since his arrival in November.
They have not won in the Premier League since a 1-0 victory at Bournemouth on the season's opening day, leaving Garde to accept he cannot discount any changes of method.
When asked if now was the time for the help of psychologists, Garde replied: "No, not for the moment.
"I've never used that in my teams, and that's it. But I'm very open-minded and if the solution could be from there, then I could do that."
Garde says this is the worst run in his managerial career, with his spell at Lyon including cup successes, but there were enough dark times in his playing career for him to know how hard it is going to be to turn things around.
Their next test is back in the Premier League against seventh placed Crystal Palace at Villa Park on Tuesday, but even a win would still leave them at least four points adrift at the bottom.
"As a manager yes I've never been involved in this kind of situation," said Garde. "But in 35 years in football, I've been through this kind of situation as a player.
"The extra game through the replay with Wycombe is not the best news, but we can only hope we have some players back after injury.
"Every week I'm speaking about confidence but we have to try to have more confidence. I'm not waiting on a parcel in the post that will be full of confidence. We have to be professional and generate it for ourselves."
