Philippe Coutinho revealed he missed the Premier League and Steven Gerrard was the decisive factor behind him joining Aston Villa. He joined Villa four years after moving from Liverpool to Barcelona for £142m. Coutinho was a failure at Barcelona but lifted the Champions League with Bayern Munich when on loan in 2019/20. He has joined Villa where his former teammate Steven Gerrard was appointed as the head coach.
“I really like it here. I missed the Premier League and the people here. They treated me really well and I missed this. It’s good to be back here,” Philippe Coutinho said talking about the Premier League and Steven Gerrard. “The games here are so intensive so I like that type of game. I have to adapt again, I’m trying my best in training and I’m getting better from the intensity point of view. I think that’s the difference that I really like.”
“In Spain, it is a different type of game. In Barcelona, normally you would have more time with the ball, more control and those are the different things. I don’t want to live in the past, I’m here at a great club and I want to give my best and enjoy my football here,” he added. “The atmosphere in the stadium [Villa Park] is incredible, it’s amazing. I really missed the games here in the Premier League because the atmospheres in the stadiums are really intense here. The people here, when I meet them in the street, they’re really nice and respectful. I really missed this. The weather I didn’t miss, it’s a bit cold, but the football here, with the club and the people, are really nice.”
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