Aston Villa interview: Gordon Cowans on how life is changing now Gerard Houllier has arrived

Sep 25 2010 by Mat Kendrick, Birmingham Mail

AS ASTON Villa’s ultimate pass master, it’s no surprise Gordon Cowans has been entrusted with improving the claret and blues’ ability to keep the ball.

Cowans, more than any other player in the club’s rich history, was an expert at finding a team-mate during his celebrated glory days patrolling Villa’s midfield.

So when Gerard Houllier came to recruit a first team coach capable of preaching his philosophy of possession football ‘Sid’ was the obvious choice.

Especially when his claret and blue credentials also include a First Division championship medal, a European Cup winners’ gong and more than 450 appearances in three playing spells.

Humble clubman that he is, Cowans modestly shrugs off his legendary status at Villa and describes his promotion from his role as under-16s coach to the senior set-up as a “privilege”.

The 51-year-old former midfield maestro has never had any problems keeping his feet on the ground – now he is revelling in encouraging the club’s current crop of stars to keep the ball on the ground.

“I have been working with them a few days now and the ideas are totally different,” said Cowans.

“Training is different to what we were doing under Kevin. Mr Houllier has brought his own ideas in – a lot of it is about possession – keeping the ball. If you look at the foreign players, you can see why they are so good at keeping possession of the ball. That is critical.

“Just look at the top English sides like Manchester United, Arsenal or Chelsea, they all keep the ball so well. It is a massive change and whenever you bring a new manager into a football club everyone wants to make a good impression with him. Everyone wants to do well and get in the team, of course.”

Cowans, whose first Premier League match in the dugout with Houllier will be against former club Wolves tomorrow, has been impressed with how Villa’s players have responded to the new regime.