Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood: Pressure is all on Liverpool at Wembley

Former Spurs boss reveals that owner Randy Lerner may be at Wembley

Samuel Stevens
Friday 17 April 2015 16:19 EDT
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Tim Sherwood’s Aston Villa side would drop into the bottom three if they lose on Tuesday night
Tim Sherwood’s Aston Villa side would drop into the bottom three if they lose on Tuesday night (Reuters)

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When Tim Sherwood leads his Aston Villa side out at Wembley on Sunday to face Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-final, he admits that he will be relieved not to be playing for Premier League points.

The newly-installed Villa boss has rejuvenated a previously ailing squad and, after last weekend’s 1-0 away victory over former club Tottenham, they are six points clear of danger.

He said: “Relegation is not at stake on Sunday, it’s about us maybe getting some glory for the football club. It’s a great opportunity for this club to get into an FA Cup final for the first time in years.

“It won’t be a very good feeling if we lose, I’ve lost a few semi-finals myself, but we’re going into it with a positive frame of mind.”

Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner
Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner (Getty Images)

Sherwood arrived in the Midlands amid a spell of transition at Villa, with American owner Rander Lerner looking for a new £160m buyer for the club.

Reports sugegest that Lerner may be in attendance on Sunday, but the former Spurs boss is in no doubt about his loyalties.

“If here isn’t there then he will be in spirit because there’s no bigger fan of Aston Villa than Randy Lerner,” Sherwood added.

“I spoke to him a couple of days ago. We’ve not spoken about the sale of the club, we’ve just spoken about how things are progressing at the moment.

Tim Sherwood has improved the fortunes of Aston Villa
Tim Sherwood has improved the fortunes of Aston Villa (Getty)

“I’m just getting on with the job as it’s a great opportunity to manage this club. I just want to scramble over the line in the Premier League and then make the most of the opportunity to build something for the future.”

The 46-year-old believes his side may benefit from the underdogs tag which has been slapped on their heads ahead of the Wembley showpiece.

He continued: “It’s a bonus for us, it may be a priority for Liverpool, but I’m not saying that we’re going to take this game lightly.

“We’re going to be trying 100% to win the football match and get this great club to Wembley in a final in May. I think the pressure is maybe more on them.”

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