Aston Villa star Emi Martinez has lifted the lid on what life is like at Villa Park under new boss Steven Gerrard.
The Liverpool legend returned to the Premier League back in November after kicking off his managerial career with a sterling spell at Rangers.
Gerrard has had a similar impact at Villa, who were floundering under his predecessor, Dean Smith.
The 41-year-old has won seven of his 15 league matches so far at Villa Park to guide the Midlands outfit away from the relegation zone.
In an extensive chat with Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster, Martinez has revealed some of the quirky training ground changes that have been implemented by Gerrard to help drive Villa's rise up the table.
And he's revealed that Gerrard's point-based system is a real winner with the squad.
Join the debate! Where do you think Aston Villa will finish under Gerrard this season? Let us know here.
“[Ezri] Konsa, he loves winning small sided games, he screams. Him and Emi Buendia – both the same," Martinez told the The Cycling GK vlog.
“We have got a list of the best trainer, let’s say you win the small-sided game you get three points – Stevie G loves that.
“You have got Emi Buendia up top, he is losing a small-sided game, he is screaming and tackling like a proper game. We have to say ‘Emi, calm it down, we have got a game in two days’.
“And Konsa – give it to him as well, there is a lot of competition in training.”
Although Gerrard made an electric start to life at Villa Park, winning four of his first six games, things have been harder recently, with the Midlanders enduring a rotten run where they mustered just one win in eight games.
But Villa have roared back by stringing together consecutive victories for the first time since Gerrard's initial appointment.
Their recent resurgence has been driven by Gerrard's former Liverpool team-mate, Philippe Coutinho.
The Brazilian was lured back to the Premier League by Gerrard in January in a move that was seen as a real coup for Villa.
Coutinho has certainly lived up to lofty expectations; racking up three goals and three assists in just seven games since his mid-season escape from Barcelona.
And Gerrard has hinted that he's keen to snap up Coutinho for good after he tormented Southampton in Saturday's 4-0 triumph.
"Phil was successful at Barcelona but he had difficult periods as well," Gerrard said ahead of Villa's midweek clash with Leeds. "He got to the stage where he needed a change of scenery and a different movie.
"We want to be that movie for him because if we want to get to where we want to be, we need to build it around talents like Phil, because at his best he is a high-level player.
"All good teams have game-changers who the opposition are really concerned about before a ball is kicked. Phil has that status and he is giving belief to his team-mates.
"Our strikers Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings want him alongside them because he delivers on the big stage. I don’t control transfer fees or wages. All I can do is give my opinion to (sporting director) Johan Lange, (chief executive) Christian Purslow and the owners. They are watching the games and they will make the final decision. Phil has shown what he is capable of so far."
