Aston Villa’s players have strived to dedicate a shot of some description to former boss Paul Lambert when they take on Leicester City in the FA Cup on Sunday.
Villa have slipped into the relegation zone having mustered just 12 goals all season, fewer than any other Premier League side and fewer than several referees.
But many players were saddened to see Lambert head for the exit and have vowed to make the Scotsman proud of his former charges.
“We chatted about it at training and we really want to dedicate our first goal against Leicester to the ex-gaffer [Paul Lambert],” Andreas Weimann told FourFourTwo.
“Realistically, though, we want to dedicate a shot on target to him, or failing that a shot that whistles past the post or gets blocked.
“OK, maybe a decent through ball, or a free-kick, or an attacking throw-in.”
The West Midlands outfit’s strikers have often cut lonely, sobbing figures up front this season, but Weimann believes he can add to his bumper tally of four goals.
“I know it’ll sound stupid, but the lads are so pumped up to show the former gaffer what he meant to us that we’re even thinking of practising shooting in training,” Weimann revealed.
“If I get a chance I’m going to hit the ball towards that meshed rectangle [the goal] and hope the guardian of the meshed rectangle [goalkeeper] doesn’t stop it. I think that’s how you do it.”
Villa’s last league goal came courtesy of defender Jores Okore against Chelsea, but most of his team-mates had forgotten how to celebrate. Others sustained serious injuries attempting to, straining underdeveloped muscles.
