Remi Garde confirms he rejected another Premier League offer before taking over at Aston Villa

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Garde confirms he rejected another Premier League offer before taking over at struggling Villa
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Remi Garde has been appointed Aston Villa manager
The Frenchman replaces the sacked Tim Sherwood
He is tasked with keeping the Midlands club in the Premier League
Garde confirmed he was offered another job before signing with Villa
Newcastle United were reported to have approached him last season

Published: 13:51 EST, 5 November 2015 | Updated: 22:03 EST, 5 November 2015

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Aston Villa may require significant sparkle and a great act of levitation, but new manager Remi Garde insisted it will be pragmatism and not magic that decides whether the club stay in the Premier League.

In an impressive debut press conference, Garde revealed he turned down a previous offer in the English top-flight before agreeing to succeed Tim Sherwood and that his mind was 98 per cent made up before Arsene Wenger publicly advised his former player to take the Villa job.

The 49-year-old Frenchman admitted he faces a big task repairing the damaged confidence of Villa’s beleaguered squad, but struck a defiant tone about the club’s survival prospects.

Former Arsenal midfielder Remi Garde has agreed to become the new manager of Aston Villa

The Frenchman faces the difficult task of keeping the Midlands club in the Premier League this season

‘I'm not a magic man, I have strong ideas,’ said Garde. ‘But if I didn't think I could change things I would have said, “No, this job is not for me”. I've got the hope that we can do it.

'We are four points away from a good place. It is a big target with only 27 game to go and the players are not in much confidence. But as soon as we get some points it will get better.

‘I can only focus on what will happen from now on. That is not saying what went on before was wrong. There is not only one way to win games but I have a strategy I want to implement. I have not come to prepare for next season in a lower division.’

Garde admitted he spoke about Villa to mentor Wenger, his former manager at Arsenal, but was his own man. ‘I had made my decision 98 per cent before I read that from Arsene,’ he added.

'I had a private conversation with him but you can't make this kind of decision because someone said I should. I have big respect for Arsene but I'm not crazy enough to say, “Ok, let's go” because he said so. He is not sat here next to me with this job.’

Villa striker Rudy Gestede (right) tackles Tottenham's Josh Onomah in the 3-1 defeat at White Hart Lane

Newcastle United are believed to have opened discussions with Garde at the end of last season but he wanted more time away after leaving Lyon in June 2014.

Garde refused to name the club but said: ‘It was in a period when I was not ready to start again. Regarding the way I left Lyon, I said to the chairman I wanted to stay honest, it was too early for me – that’s it.’

He added that owner Randy Lerner’s enthusiasm convinced him to join Villa. ‘Since I met him we have exchanged a lot of views and ideas. He came this week and had a chat with the players. It was important for them to hear from the owner.

'I have been very impressed by the way he loves this football club. This is why he convinced me to do better with this team.’