Gerard Houllier snaps back at critics

Villa boss Gerard Houllier has questioned the attitude among certain managers in the Premier League.

Villa's signing of striker Darren Bent from Sunderland for £24m and their pursuit of Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam have both provoked an angry response towards Houllier.

And the Frenchman made a veiled reference to a clique of British managers in the Premier League who he feels perhaps abide by a different set of rules from those that come from overseas.

"I'm a foreign manager. I'm an easy target," said Houllier. "I get on very well with a lot of them (other managers). I am French by the way. I am sure if it would have been another manager it would have been different."

Houllier continued: "It makes me laugh more than anything else. I like Steve Bruce. I think he is a good manager, he is doing a good job.

"I think he was not too gracious to me but that's life. It is not going to prevent me from sleeping, I can tell you that! But I know we have done things right. If we had done something wrong, I would say 'hands up' but we have behaved in a very proper way."

Despite the problems Houllier retains an interest in Adam, although Villa will have to fight off interest from Liverpool who are preparing to make an offer for the player.

The Scottish midfielder is thought to be keen to leave Bloomfield Road but neither Villa nor Liverpool have come near to matching Blackpool's £8m valuation of the player.

"My interest in him has not faltered," said Houllier. "It is true we made a bid, we like the player. Am I hopeful? Of course I am."

John Carew has completed his loan move to Stoke after rejecting a switch to Albion and Houllier admitted he left the club on good terms.

The Villa boss also confirmed that he is prepared to let defender Curtis Davies go out on loan again.

He added: "It was the right move for John at the right time. He did well against Birmingham. "Curtis was on loan to Leicester and he may go somewhere else because he wants to play football."