New Aston Villa manager Roberto Di Matteo has claimed that the players needs to be united if they want to earn promotion back to the Premier League next season.
The former Chelsea boss, who guided the Blues to Champions League glory in 2012, was appointed as Villa manager earlier this month.
Di Matteo's predecessor Remi Garde left the Midlands outfit in March before the club were dumped out of the Premier League after picking up just 17 points all season.
In his first press conference as Villa boss, Di Matteo told reporters: "We need a united group, people who are willing to fight for each other, to fight for the club. That is the most important aspect, that they will put their services for the good of the team.
"I think that will be a big job to find the right personnel that will bring those attributes. It's an exciting project and that's one of the reasons I am here. It's a rebuilding job isn't it. You look at the last three to four years and it's been a club that has been in decline and ultimately relegation last season.
"We know it is going to be difficult, it's going to be a job where we have to turn things around. It is a team that struggled in the Premier League last season. It is a new start, new ownership, new management team. We will take it from there and we will try and do everything we can within reasons that will help us and guide us next season."
Di Matteo's arrival was sanctioned by new owner Dr Tony Xia, who completed his acquisition of the club earlier this week.
Danielle Joynson
