Gérard Houllier says it is time Aston Villa rediscovered winning waysVilla's new manager wants Carling Cup runRichard Dunne out of Blackburn gameGérard Houllier has issued a bullish call to arms ahead of his first game as Aston Villa manager by proclaiming that the club needs to "get out of its comfort zone" and show renewed ambition to challenge for trophies. Houllier, who formally took over yesterday, said Villa are well-respected within Europe but suggested their image was too "nice" and that the club lacked the winning mentality required to win things.The Frenchman hopes to address those shortcomings over the course of his three-year stay, which effectively starts tomorrow, when Villa host Blackburn Rovers in the third round of the Carling Cup. The match comes 44 days after Martin O'Neill resigned as manager, leading to a turbulent period that coincided with Kevin MacDonald being appointed as caretaker and the club making an unconvincing start to the season that included elimination from Europe at the first hurdle.Houllier admitted the Villa players were low on confidence and that the timing of O'Neill's exit had left them feeling "a bit of shock", although the former Liverpool manager is hopeful that his arrival, allied to the appointment of Gary McAllister as his assistant and Gordon Cowans as first‑team coach, will bring some much‑needed stability. In the longer term, however, he has a grand vision and has set his sights on altering the mentality of everyone connected with the club to end their 14-year wait for a trophy."Villa is a club which is liked in Europe. It has an identity," Houllier said. "Aston Villa is known as [being like] Paris Saint‑Germain. This club is known to be a good club. I've not met anyone saying it's a bad club. What the club needs is more ambition, more biting teeth."When you are a good club everything is fine, the comfort is there. What we need to do is get out of this comfort zone a bit more and get the results. The passion is there [but] the ambition to win things could do well at this club. The image is that it's a nice club. We want to be a winning club. A nice, winning club."The League Cup would seem to be the perfect competition to kickstart that transformation. It was the first trophy that Houllier won at Liverpool, in 2001, when he also picked up the FA Cup and Uefa Cup during his most successful season at Anfield. "It [the League Cup] took a lot of pressure off the team," Houllier said. "If you remember, even Chelsea, their first [Premier League] title came after winning the League Cup. I remember speaking to [José] Mourinho and saying: 'Don't neglect that cup because if you win it, the confidence will grow.' This is exactly what happened to us: we practically won everything."Although Houllier is keen to get through against Blackburn, he has taken a gamble with his team selection. Richard Dunne is ruled out with a knee injury and Stephen Ireland is doubtful after picking up a dead leg but Houllier plans to make a number of other changes regardless. With Villa out of the Europa League and looking like also-rans in the race for a place in the top four, the Villa manager is taking a risk. "Obviously I saw 11, 12, 13 players on Saturday, now I need to see the others," said Houllier, who confirmed that Marc Albrighton, the young right-winger, will be among those rested.The 63-year-old has started to implement what he described as a "more continental" training regime and, over time, also expects the style of play to change. One change is likely to see Ashley Young, who has enjoyed playing in a more advanced role this season, just behind the striker, return to the flank."I think he plays for the national team as a winger, which means if he wants to keep his position and be extremely effective, maybe he has to play [at Villa] as a winger," he said.Houllier revealed he has yet to sign his contract at Villa, although he made light of the hold-up, and pointed out that it was not until November that he put pen to paper at Liverpool during his first year in charge. He has more pressing things on his mind, including lifting some of the gloom at Villa Park. "You get smiles on faces with some results. And once you get some results, then you get more confidence and can work in a different way," he said. "But I trust this team. We've got a decent squad."
Houllier revealed he has yet to sign his contract at Villa..
I think we will be ok under him.