01.01.2016 23:42 h

Garde won't quit even if Villa go down

Aston Villa manager Remi Garde insists he won't quit even if his struggling side are relegated from the Premier League.

Villa are rooted to the bottom of the table as they prepare to face fellow strugglers Sunderland on Saturday.

They are 11 points from safety thanks to an 18-match winless streak and Garde has overseen eight of the games during that miserable run, which has put Villa on course to drop out of the top flight for the first time since 1987.

However, the former Lyon boss, who took over in November, says he is willing to stay to guide Villa out of the Championship if they are relegated because he is sure the club will still want him.

"Yes - both answers are yes," Garde told reporters on Friday. "I have got a very good feeling in my mind.

"In every football club there are some difficulties and problems.

"Of course I thought we would have won earlier, but I knew when you come to a club that has played 11 and lost nine you don't expect to find everything going well.

"If they are, you do not get the call to come in.

"I knew it would be difficult but now I am full of confidence."