‘Didn’t perform’: Gabby Agbonlahor says £17m Aston Villa player owes Steven Gerrard an apology

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Gabriel Agbonlahor has told TalkSPORT that Aston Villa midfielder Philippe Coutinho owes Steven Gerrard an apology after putting in poor performances this season.

Coutinho completed a £17 million switch to Villa Park from Barcelona over the summer after a decent loan spell last season (Sky Sports).

But the Brazilian and Villa have been underwhelming during the current campaign, which led to Steven Gerrard being sacked this week.

The English boss was dismissed after a heavy 3-0 defeat to newly-promoted Fulham on Friday evening. And Agbonlahor thinks Coutinho should apologise to his former boss due to his performances.

Agbonlahor says Coutinho owes Gerrard an apology

“Like everyone said, Coutinho was his man – didn’t perform for him,” Agbonlahor said on TalkSPORT.

“Coutinho owes Gerrard an apology for me, the way he performed. Gerrard backed him.”

The former Villa striker feels that it was ultimately Gerrard’s tactics that led to him being sacked this week.

“I just think the formation wasn’t working. He wanted the full-backs to have the width but it wasn’t working.

“He got rid of all the wingers – Traore, Trezeguet, El Ghazi, that annoyed fans a bit.

“We became predictable, we were boring and a lot of balls were being crossed into the box with strikers that weren’t really going to win the headers. I think the tactics were poor and it was just a matter of time really [Gerrard being sacked].

“Wolves sacked their manager and look where they are. Aston Villa want to push into Europe, not fighting relegation.”

Coutinho has certainly been underwhelming for Villa this season after a promising loan spell during the second-half of the last campaign.

Gerrard knew Coutinho very well after playing with the Brazilian for five years at Liverpool. But the midfielder and Villa have failed to impress this season, which led to the English boss being sacked

The Villains take on Brentford at Villa Park today and will be hoping to pick up an important three points as they search for a new manager.