Remi Garde: No 'suicide' football
Villa boss Remi Garde has reminded supporters that playing all-out football against a side like Manchester City would be like committing 'suicide'.
A solid first-half display from Garde's rock-bottom Villa side was blitzed as City eased to victory with four second-half goals.
The defeat was Villa's 19th of a dismal season that leaves them staring down the barrel of relegation.
Garde said: "We had a plan going into the game, which was not conceding a goal as long as we could because you have to be realistic – we were playing away at a team that can still win the Champions League, we are bottom of the league.
"Being too optimistic in our game would have been like a suicide.
"Everybody was pleased with the way we played the first 45 minutes and the plan for the second half was to do the same and maybe exploit one or two good situations.
"Then after that unfortunately we conceded the first goal very early which was a big blow for the team and the second one straight after the first one was another big blow.
"You can imagine how it was mentally for the players."
But Garde remained confident in his ability.
"I'm very confident in my management. I have no problem with that," he added.
"I have problems, but not with my own management."
