Under-fire Aston Villa boss tells players they face game of their lives against Swansea

Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood has told his players they face the game of their lives against Swansea

TIM SHERWOOD has told his shell-shocked Aston Villa players they face the game of their lives today.

 

Sherwood is in danger of the sack if his side lose at home to Swansea today. With one point from the last eight games, he knows the heat is well and truly on, and Sherwood said: "I am telling the players it's a must-win. This is a cup final. Forget Wembley last season, this is a cup final."

Sherwood predicts a win for his men and insists he can turn things around if he is given time.

The tension around Villa Park will be intense and he admits he has curbed his animated touchline antics for fear of making his players edgy.

 

"It's alright me jumping around like a lunatic on the sidelines, but I've tried to calm that down for their benefit really," he said.

"I don't want to bring anxiety to anywhere, certainly to the crowd because that spreads to the players and that's the last thing they need at the moment because they are anxious.

"They all want to be Premier League footballers and this club needs to be in the Premier League. I know we will be and they need to know we will be."

Sherwood says he is well aware there is talk this could be his last game, and that candidates like David Moyes and Brendan Rodgers are already being linked with his job.

 



Former Man United boss David Moyes has been linked with the Aston Villa job



But he is not thinking of throwing the towel in, saying he is still the same "cocky fella" he was when he breezed through the door in February.

Asked if he could foresee a moment when he would walk from the job, Sherwood replied: "Er, yeah. I would always say that. Whenever I'm not happy with the situation, and I'm not happy in my job, then I would, 100 per cent.

"But not now. And if I can take what I've taken over the last few months and still be happy, that tells you lot."

Sherwood insists he is happy to be in the front line, but can't help feeling he has taken both barrels off just about everybody.

 

"I've taken the brunt of this football club over the last few months, everything that everyone wants to throw at it, it's been on my head," he said. "And that's my job as a manager to take that responsibility.

"I'm not in the background, am I? I'm the manager, I get paid to stand at the front and take it on the chin and that's what I'm doing.

"Has it changed me? I don't think it has changed me as a person. I think I'm the same now as I've been from the start, when things were going well. I'm still cocky!"

Garry Monk's future as Swansea boss is also clouded in uncertainty after a run of five games without a win and a slump to 14th in the table, and he has told his players getting back to winning ways is the best way to force the talking to stop.

 



Swansea boss Garry Monk has told his players to get back to winning ways after slumping to 14th



"I have been here 12 years. It has been successful but there have been periods of adversity where we have suffered, we have been criticised and had people doubt us," said Monk.

"Our biggest strength in all that is our unity. We have shown the levels we have and we need to pull rank, to pull even tighter together and make sure we come through it. The best way to stop all the talk is by winning games.

"Go back before this period I was seen as a future England manager, now I probably wouldn't be good enough for non-League.

"A couple of difficult days puts you in a different light. I am aware of that and the business I am in.

"We are in a bad moment and I recognise that is my responsibility and it is my job is to give the group confidence and make sure we get performances."

 

Andre Ayew insists that their will be no brotherly love between him and Jordan ahead of Saturday

The struggles of both clubs means the Ayew brothers' first meeting in English football will come witht he stakes high, and Swansea winger Andre has warned Villa forward Jordan there will be no brotherly love on display.

"We've both been talking about this game ever since we moved to the Premier League," said the former Marseille man.

"We are both very proud to be playing in the best league and have this opportunity to play against each other.

"We are both trying to make our family, and the Ghanaian fans proud, because when we play we aren't just doing it for ourselves, there are a lot of other supporters out there watching us.

"I played against him last season in France and lost. He scored two and I got one, so I hope it isn't like that on Saturday because we need a result."