Friday 4 March 2016 18:40, UK
Manager Remi Garde has strongly denied there is a split in his Aston Villa changing room ahead of the team's visit to Manchester City on Saturday.
The Daily Telegraph claimed that some of Garde's senior players have openly questioned some of his training methods and are annoyed at his unwillingness to criticise individuals in the changing room after bad displays.
The Villa boss, however, firmly rebuffed those allegations when he spoke to the press at the club's Bodymoor Heath training ground on Friday.
"I'm surprised that this kind of stuff goes out," he said. "I strongly believe that it is not the case, simply because I had the captain of the team Micah [Richards] after the last game in my office. We had a private chat.
"To sum up I can tell you that it was exactly the opposite of what you are saying."
He added: "I don't believe there is a split between the players."
Villa are bottom of the Premier League with just 16 points after 28 games, and no team has previously escaped relegation with that tally or fewer.
After rallying in January for a run of two wins and three draws in all competitions, the Villans have since only won once, a 2-0 home victory over Norwich, and go to the Etihad Stadium on the back of three defeats, including Tuesday's 3-1 home loss to Everton.
Asked if his players are enjoying training, Garde replied: "Enjoying is not the word because when you are bottom of the league you don't enjoy being bottom of the league. Nobody enjoys it, I'm not enjoying it.
"I can't speak for everybody. But I have been told there is no problem with that."
Garde acknowledged that fitness was an issue at the club when he arrived in November, referring to the players' match running statistics, but admitted he has made changes to the initial training regime which he introduced.
"I made a lot of concessions regarding my training methods since I came and the more the time is going the more I am doing concessions," he said.
He did concede, however, that there is a rift between the fans and the club.
Villa fans staged a protest to club bosses, many walking out in the 74th minute of the Everton match - the time chosen to reflect the club's formation in 1874.
The number of those in attendance decreased significantly in the 74th minute when large sections of home supporters left the ground in direct protest to the Aston Villa hierarchy.
"It's a symbol of all the problems that currently Aston Villa is facing," Garde said.
"Fans come to Villa Park to see their team winning and as long as we are not winning, there is probably a split between the fans, me and the team because I am with the team, but this is the way football is going."
