Former Aston Villa manager Graham Taylor admits Gerard Houllier struggled with PR at Villa Park.
Houllier stepped down as manager last week.
Taylor told the Sunday Mercury: "His reception when he came, as everybody knows, was rather lukewarm.
"Of course, he didn't help himself. The biggest thing about Gerard that surprised me was the comments that he made after the Manchester City game.
"He said he hadn't played his first team because they would probably have lost as well, or words to that effect.
"And at Liverpool saying that, when Villa lost, if there was one team they were going to lose to he'd prefer it to be Liverpool.
"I was absolutely amazed at those comments.
"Because when you join a club, even though you might have feelings for other clubs, you have to put that to one side and focus your affections fully on your current club."
