Sunday 15 February 2015 18:18, UK
Thomas Hitzlsperger hopes Tim Sherwood will be able to get the best out of Aston Villa's squad and keep them in the Premier League.
Sherwood has been tasked with saving Villa's season over the last 13 games of the season after Paul Lambert's rocky reign in charge was brought to an end.
It’s good for him (Sherwood) to step in because people have watched the club for many years know it is not easy to make a change.
He takes over a Villa side that has struggled for goals, with only 12 scored in their previous 25 league games, but the German believes the talent is there to keep them up.
“It’s not an easy task for him. It’s good for him to step in because people have watched the club for many years know it is not easy to make a change," Hitzlsperger said.
"Paul Lambert said he has got a good group of players but unfortunately he couldn’t get the best out of them lately.
"Good luck to Tim. I am very close to the club, I keep following their progress and I want to see them in the Premiership.
"In the next few years I want to see them not fighting against relegation but being higher up the table. It’s not looking too good at the moment but I think they should be more concerned about staying in the Premiership than the FA Cup. That’s what Tim is going to do."
Hitzlsperger was speaking at the Football v Homophobia fans' conference in Manchester, where he took part in a question and answer session.
The former Villa, West Ham and Everton player came out at the end of his professional career in 2014 and took part in the event as part of his work with FARE, the anti-discrimination network for football in Europe.
I would say there has been a change, but those who say change is only achieved when we see gay Premiership players or professional football players, then those are disappointed.
Hitzlsperger says the work being undertaken by LGBT groups is having an effect within football but warned that it must continue to avoid slipping out of the spotlight.
He added: "I’ve just come out of the Q&A. It was nice talking to fans who were asking me all kinds of questions, wanting to know how they can support gay players to come out.
"They are waiting for selective players to come out as that would make the biggest difference. I think I answered most of the questions and they were quite happy.
“My last year was quite intense. I’ve had lots of requests, I’ve done plenty of interviews for TV and newspapers. I would say there has been a change, but those who say change is only achieved when we see gay Premiership players or professional football players, then those are disappointed.
"There’s a lot of work to be done and so far I am quite happy with the way things are going, but it needs to continue.”
