---
title: "Alan Hutton blasts former Villa sporting director Jesús García Pitarch"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2021/02/05/alan-hutton-blasts-former-villa-chief-jesus-garcia-pitarch/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2021-02-05T11:45:00Z"
modified: "2021-02-05T11:45:00Z"
---

# Alan Hutton blasts former Villa sporting director Jesús García Pitarch

Aston Villa look on course for a top 10 finish in the Premier League this season and all of their summer [signings](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/alletransfers/verein/405) have contributed to their success.

Former Villans defender [Alan Hutton](https://readastonvilla.com/2021/02/03/aston-villa-west-ham-team-news-mcginn-sanson/) lauded the work of sporting director Johan Lange and believes “it’s working well” after he succeeded Jesús García Pitarch in the role [last July](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53592533). The Scotland international told [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/hutton-exclusive-this-is-why-i-never-liked-jesus-garcia-pitarch-at-aston-villa/):

> I never really liked what Suso (Pitarch) was doing, to be honest. It seemed to be quantity over quality which is fine, he thought he was doing the best job possible.
>
> It turned out he wasn’t but Johan’s come in and I think him and Dean Smith work really well together. I think that a lot of the signings have been down to Dean Smith and it also looks like his team, who he wants, the type of player that he wants. It‘s working well, it’s working really well.

Emiliano Martinez [joined](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/emiliano-martinez/transfers/spieler/111873) on a four-year deal from Arsenal and has kept 10 clean sheets in his first [20 league appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/emiliano-martinez/leistungsdaten/spieler/111873) while [saving 76%](https://fbref.com/en/players/7956236f/Emiliano-Martinez) of shots on target faced.

Matty Cash [joined](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matty-cash/transfers/spieler/425334) on a five-year deal from Nottingham Forest and has recorded the most tackles (49) and most interceptions (49) in the [Villa squad](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/24/Show/England-Aston-Villa) this season. Moving to midfield, Ross Barkley [joined](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ross-barkley/leistungsdaten/spieler/131978) on a season-long loan from Chelsea and had a hand in four goals from [seven games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ross-barkley/leistungsdaten/spieler/131978) before [injury struck](https://www.football.london/crystal-palace-fc/ross-barkley-villa-chelsea-news-19503489) in November.

in attack, Bertrand Traore [joined](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/bertrand-traore/transfers/spieler/131996) on a four-year deal from Lyon and has had a hand in [six goals from his first 18 league games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/bertrand-traore/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/131996/verein/405) for Villa. Also, Ollie Watkins [joined](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ollie-watkins/transfers/spieler/324358) on a five-year deal from Brentford and has boasts 11 goals from [23 games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ollie-watkins/leistungsdaten/spieler/324358) so far for Dean Smith’s side.

### **READ ASTON VILLA VERDICT**

Villa [signed 16 players last season](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/transfers/verein/405/plus/1?saison_id=2019&pos=&detailpos=&w_s=) and a number of them flopped – Bjorn Engels, Jota, Danny Drinkwater, Trezeguet, Mbwana Samatta, Marvelous Nakamba, Borja Baston and Pepe Reina [all contributed little](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/24/Archive/England-Aston-Villa) – but the club focused on quality over quantity under a new sporting director and, as Hutton has suggested, it has paid off.

Every player Villa signed in the summer transfer window of 2020 has impressed so far in their debut season and Morgan Sanson has now been added to the squad, [joining](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/morgan-sanson/transfers/spieler/174094) on a four-and-a-half-year deal from Marseille, so things are looking up for the Claret and Blues under the new regime.