Villa's Garde down but not out

Aston Villa manager Remi Garde says the danger of his club toppling out of the Premier League and a reluctance to spend big meant that he failed to make any signings during the transfer window that could have helped the team stay up.

But, he said via the club's website (www.avfc.co.uk), the team will cope.

The Frenchman missed out on all his targets, with Roma's Seydou Doumbia opting for Newcastle United, Girondins Bordeaux midfielder Wahbi Khazri heading to Sunderland and Hajduk Split goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic being denied a work permit.

Villa are eight points adrift of safety.

"I am disappointed. I know the team needs strengthening and improving with new players," the manager said. "Probably the main reasons we haven't been able to are that we are bottom of the league and not very attractive for players - and also because financially speaking the club is not in the situation, probably, where they wanted to spend too much money.

"One or two new players would have been helpful for the target (of survival). But we still need to believe."

Garde added that he was used to battling adversity and reiterated his commitment to keeping Villa in the Premier League.

"I have a strength inside of me. I will cope with every situation I have to."