Dean Saunders says Christian Benteke’s return to form is down to the man management skills of new boss Tim Sherwood.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup meeting between his two old sides, the former Liverpool and Aston Villa favourite told TheFA.com the change of atmosphere has helped breathe new life into the Villans’ star striker.
“Tim Sherwood has the drive and determination to succeed. He has an edge to him and he wants to win,” said Saunders.
Aston Villa v Liverpool
FA Cup semi-final
3pm, Sunday 19 April
Wembley Stadium Connected by EE
Winners receive £900,000
Losers receive £450,000
Live on BT Sport
“He’s got a fresh approach where he has freed the players up to go and attack. It’s not a coincidence that Benteke has started scoring goals again.”
The Villans have enjoyed an upturn in form since Sherwood took over in February.
They have recorded league wins against Leicester, West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur – a run that has moved them six points clear of the bottom three.
He has also steered them to Wembley after a 2-0 FA Cup quarter-final win against West Brom in March.
“If you ask players what rubs off on you the most, it has to be a will to win,” added Saunders, who scored 50 goals during a three-stint at the club in the 1990s.
Christian Benteke has been in fine form since Tim Sherwood took over
“It’s not always about tactics or the style of football. It’s about getting the ball to the players that can score and allowing them to play with the freedom that a lack of confidence can sometimes prevent.”
While Saunders says Sherwood’s influence on the training ground and in the dressing room cannot be understated, key to the change of fortunes on the pitch has been the form of the Belgium international.
Before the 2-1 league win against West Brom on 3 March, Benteke had netted just three goals in his previous 22 games for club and country.
Since then he has gone on to score nine times in his last eight games – and Saunders says it is down to two things – a change of tactics and simple self-belief.
Saunders said: “They’re getting more bodies forward, they’re getting more bodies into the box and he’s given them the belief that they can go and take anyone on.
“When I was on a bad run Arthur Cox used to point me in the right direction. He used to tell to always make sure I was making runs into the middle of the box and that the ball would come. It can be as simple as that.
Dean Saunders was speaking on behalf of William Hill, official supporter of the FA Cup
“Most years you would have a run of seven or eight games without a goal and it does affect you. You go to sleep the night of a game wondering where your next goal is coming from.
“It affects your whole life. The only way to describe it is that when you’re on a run you’re watching the game and you can see the ball coming to you before it leaves your teammate’s foot.
“You just instinctively feel it and before you know it you’re ahead of your man and tapping in at the near post.
“When you’re going through a drought it’s the opposite. You’re watching the winger and you’re hoping the ball comes to you – and you’re not making the runs.
“And it’s that yard, the yard between belief and lack of belief that can make all the difference.”
