Premiership: Get ruthless, warns Gregory

Aston Villa manager John Gregory wants his players to emulate Peter Schmeichel and Steve Staunton and get angry with each other on the pitch.

The Villa boss believes they need to show more of the self-belief demonstrated by the likes of Schmeichel and Staunton - who are known at the club as ‘Mr Angry’ and ‘Mr Grumpy’ - and also become ‘‘more ruthless with each other.’’

That will be put to the test in Saturday’s home Premiership derby with Leicester City with Gregory looking for a positive reaction after the shock midweek defeat at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday in the Worthington Cup.

Gregory said: ‘‘I am trying to get that extra belief into the make-up and attitude of the squad. They have to have the Schmeichel outlook on football.

‘‘He still believes he is still the best goalkeeper in the world. At 60 he’ll believe he is the best keeper in the country.

‘‘John Burridge had that as well. He played until he was 47 because he still believed he was good enough.

‘‘He had that real desire and Peter Schmeichel has that.

‘‘I’d like the rest of my squad to have the same belief. If you haven’t got it, you need to get it.’’

He added: ‘‘Roy Keane has it, most of the Manchester United team have it. They’ve had it driven into them and it’s about being able to look at your best mate and call him a ****.

‘‘Schmeichel and Steve Bruce were the best of mates at United and Schmeichel and Staunton here get on fantastically well but then you see them on the pitch.

‘‘I saw David Beckham and Gary Neville having a real go at each other on Sunday in a match and they are big pals. But sometimes I don’t get that from my lads.

‘‘I don’t see them falling out with each other on the field. We need to get a bit ruthless with each other.’’