Garde vows to save Villa from relegation

Garde was appointed as Tim Sherwood's successor on Monday and then watched Villa slip to their seventh successive league defeat with a 3-1 loss at Tottenham.

Villa are already four points from safety after losing nine of their first 11 matches and Garde has a daunting first assignment when leaders Manchester City visit Villa Park on Sunday.

But the 49-year-old former Lyon coach is adamant he can save Villa from their first top-flight relegation since 1987.

"I am confident, it's 28 games to go. If we start winning things will change," Garde told reporters on Thursday.

"Now it's difficult but we can do it. I am not coming to prepare for next season in a lower division.

"I met the owner (Randy Lerner), I met Tom Fox (chief executive) we had very good meetings. I had very good feelings which made my decision to accept this difficult mission.

"I think Borussia Monchengladbach started with five defeats in a row and then they had six wins in a row. In football you never know.

"When, mathematically, it's done you shake hands and it's finished."

Villa signed 13 players in the close-season, with sporting director Hendrik Almstadt and director of scouting Paddy Riley heavily involved in the recruitment drive led by Sherwood.

Sherwood had hinted he did not get the players he wanted, but former Arsenal midfielder Garde says he can work in the current system and will have the last word on signings.

"It's something we are used to having in France. It is quite normal to have a sporting director. I had a big chairman, a chief executive, a chief scout as well (at Lyon)," he said.

"What is normal is I will have the final say, which is very important.

"You need people to support you and I took this organisation as a support, not something I will struggle or fight with."