Gabby Agbonlahor has insisted that Philippe Coutinho would have no chance under new coach Unai Emery.
Aston Villa have appointed Unai Emery as a new head coach after Steven Gerrad got sacked earlier last week following a 3-0 defeat to Fulham.
The Villarreal manager, meanwhile, is currently under contract with the La Liga side until the end of this campaign, which means the Villains will pay his €6m (£5.25m) release clause.
Therefore, the Spaniard will make his Premier League return on November 1st after a work permit.
According to The Boot Football, Gabby Agbonlahor has admitted that Phillie Coutinho’s chances to get a start under the newly appointed coach are quite ‘impossible’.
Meanwhile, following Gerrard’s sacking, the former Villa attacker insisted that the Brazil international owes an apology to the coach for letting him down due to his underperformance.
After making his stay at Villa Park permanent in the summer, the ex-Barcelona star hasn’t scored a single goal nor provided an assist for Villa.
“I see (Emi) Buendia as sharper, younger, more hungry.
“I feel like Coutinho, if he couldn’t pick up his performances for his mate Steven Gerrard, who brought him in, relied on him.
“100%, he let (Gerrard) down. If I was him I’d be apologising to Gerrard. I’d be texting him saying sorry, I left you down, I didn’t perform.”