Former Aston Villa midfielder Carles Gil has detailed how he was left bemused by his treatment at the club, after they suddenly decided they wanted him after months of it being the opposite.
The midfielder has been recounting his career in [a conversation with FOX Deportes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7OqhNUVBXE), including a detailed look at his time at Aston Villa.
He joined them in a €4.2m deal from boyhood club Valencia in the January transfer window in 2015 while Paul Lambert was still manager.
He initially had him in his team, playing him in four games in the Premier League, against Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Hull City and in an FA Cup win over Bournemouth.
Lambert departed Aston Villa in February and was replaced by Tim Sherwood, who initially used him in a 2-1 loss to Stoke City, in which the midfielder was pulled off after 58 minutes.
He spent the rest of the season sitting on the bench or out of the squad entirely and didn’t appear under Sherwood again until a 2-2 draw with Sunderland on matchday four of the following season.
Gil admits he had expected to leave Aston Villa at that point but was instead left bemused by a complete change in strategy from Sherwood about his status in the squad.
“Well, it was still a bit surreal because, of course, I took it for granted,” he said.
“Well, this guy doesn’t want me. I don’t want to be here. This is going to be very easy. What’s happening? What about next preseason?
“I’m prepared for the coach to tell me to go, and I’m prepared for him to say goodbye. And he said no that he’s counting on me.
“I remember him telling me that I was too good for the team (when he joined), that he didn’t need that, the team, and all that, but that a new season was starting now and that he was counting on me.”
“But then I said, well, I’m going to try to prove it to him, and I had a really good preseason. I remember, but before the season started, I got injured again, right? So, it was a difficult moment again. After 10 games, they fired him, and another coach came in, a French coach.”