Roberto Di Matteo: Aston Villa flops might receive clean slate
Boss Roberto Di Matteo has hinted he is ready to give some of Villa's under-performing stars a clean slate as he looks to build a team capable of challenging for promotion.
The Italian has been tasked with re-invigorating the club's playing staff following last season's relegation from the Premier League.
Villa won just three league games during a campaign in which numerous senior players, including Gabriel Agbonlahor, Micah Richards and Joleon Lescott, made more headlines off the field than on it.
Speculation has been rife that those players will be among the first out of the door as Di Matteo looks to trim a bloated squad in time for the new season but, speaking at a press conference in Beijing, the Villa boss suggested decisions on who goes or stays will not be based solely on last season.
"I don't think it is fair to judge people just on what happened in the last 12 months," he said. Departures are imminent, however, with Di Matteo currently possessing a squad of more than 30 senior professionals. The manager admitted rebuilding confidence and healing the scars of last season will be among his toughest challenges.
"Obviously it had an effect on the players," he said. "A lot of them probably had their worst experience in football terms last season and it's something they will have to overcome."
Di Matteo, who was in Beijing alongside chief executive Keith Wyness and owner Tony Xia as part of a promotional tour, described Villa as a house which needed to be knocked down and completely rebuilt.
