Philippe Coutinho was one of the most sought-after players in the January transfer window. The Brazilian midfielder departed Barcelona for a loan spell with Aston Villa, a traditional English club with a different history and media reception than Barcelona.
The arrangement might be seen as a fresh start for the athlete. Since joining Barça in 2018, he has never been able to match his brilliant spell at Liverpool. He now wants to reclaim his place in European football, where there are high expectations but less pressure.
Despite the fact that he has only featured in two matches so far, the first impression is positive. Coutinho scored in his debut and was instrumental in the Brazilian team’s performance before the break.
His main goal, by the way, is to impress and secure a spot with Brazil for the 2022 World Cup. His exploits at Aston Villa will undoubtedly be crucial in persuading Tite until November.
Promising start at Aston Villa
Philippe Coutinho had to wait four days for his business card to be accepted by Aston Villa. On January 11th, he made his debut and was picked for the match against Manchester United on January 15th, where he came on in the second half.
In just 22 minutes, the Brazilian midfielder changed the course of the game, which had been 2-0 in favor of the Red Devils. He started by devising Ramsey’s goal play. Then he entered the area to complete his teammate’s pass and maintain the score. The group were selected for the “Goal of the Month” award in January for their efforts.
Coutinho made his debut with three successful shots and one tackle, as well as without missing a single pass. The title was assured in the next match, which was against Everton, thanks to the outstanding performance. Despite the fact that he did not score, the midfielder played a key role in the 1-0 victory away from home.
The remainder of the season is still ahead of him for the midfielder, so the two games are just a small basis to make any conclusion. Despite this, Coutinho has had flashes of brilliance, and if he continues in this vein, he will be able to live up to the high expectations that have been put on him since his arrival at Villa.
Relationship with coach Steven Gerrard
At Aston Villa, Philippe Coutinho reconnected with Steven Gerrard, with whom he had previously played at Liverpool. The former Liverpool midfielder was named manager with the intention of keeping the team in the Premier League and, who knows, maybe even participating in international competition.
Coutinho was recruited after Gerrard requested him and expressed his respect for the Brazilian. “I don’t think you get the nickname ‘The Magician’ unless you’re a great football player,” the coach said.
Gerrard’s presence influenced his decision to join Aston Villa, according to the midfielder. Coutinho’s ability to adapt to the expected role will definitely be boosted by the coach’s confidence and the club’s good atmosphere.
Return to the Brazilian National Team
Even before he joined Aston Villa, Philippe Coutinho was granted a second opportunity with the Brazilian national team. Tite’s list of players called up for the World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay includes the midfielder.
Despite the fact that both players had previously qualified for the World Cup, Tite picked Dani Alves (Barcelona). Both selections garnered a lot of flak from fans, especially as Coutinho has yet to get his stride.
The midfielder was named to the starting lineup against Ecuador, however he only played 33 minutes before being substituted owing to the expulsion of Emerson Royal. Despite a poor start, Coutinho is on Tite’s radar. If Aston Villa play well, their participation in the Cup, which is scheduled for November, will be assured.
Passage deleted by Barcelona
Since the end of 2021, Barcelona have been working with Philippe Coutinho to identify their future direction. Coach Xavi has left the Brazilian midfielder out of his plans as he attempts to rebuild Barcelona this season.
After signing ex-Manchester City player Ferran Torres, the club is looking to save costs. Coutinho has one of the highest salaries in the club and is the third-highest-paid player in football history (€160 million), behind only Neymar and Mbappe.
Aston Villa are an intriguing possibility for the Brazilian international, who can restart his career in Europe without having to worry about defending a large club.
Philippe Coutinho’s star will definitely shine once again for the English club, and he may even be selected for the Brazilian World Cup squad. At least in the early games, the midfielder is on the right track.
