ASTON Villa boss Gerard Houllier will lose no sleep over Steve Bruce’s verbal outburst against him regarding the transfer of Darren Bent - and has accused the Sunderland boss of being ungracious.

Houllier came out all guns blazing in response to Bruce’s attack over the way he acted during the sale of Bent to Villa for a club record £18m.

He defended his stance in making no personal contact with Bruce while the transfer was being conducted.

And Houllier is adamant Villa, who host Manchester City today, acted in a proper manner throughout the transaction.

He said: ‘‘I like Steve Bruce.

I think he is a good manager.

He is doing a good job.

‘‘I think he was not too gracious to me, but that’s life. It is not going to prevent me from sleeping, I can tell you that.

‘‘If we had done something wrong, I would say ‘hands up’, but we have behaved in a very proper way.

‘‘If I call Steve and say ‘I want his player’ he will go vocal and go public and it will be even worse.

‘‘He is working for the interests of Sunderland. I am working for the interests of Aston Villa.

‘‘You contact a manager when you want a player on loan sometimes. A lot of fellow managers call me if they want loans.

‘‘This is the life of football.

It makes me laugh more than anything else.

‘‘Am I bothered about what he said? I prefer not to answer that question.’’ Houllier also hit out at Blackpool boss Ian Holloway’s comments over Villa’s attempts to sign midfielder Charlie Adam.

He said: ‘‘It’s the same with Ian Holloway. We did things right with Blackpool.

‘‘We went straight to the club, we were quiet, we said nothing and finally it comes out in the press, but not from Aston Villa.

‘‘He said we were insulting them. We made a bid, they said no and we respect that.

‘‘But there is no point in being vocal and saying we were insulting them and insulting the player.

‘‘They are insulting us but we don’t want to go on about it.’’ Houllier is still interested in signing Adam after having bids of £2.5m and £3.5m rejected.

He said: ‘‘We made no mystery after what was said by Holloway in the Press.

‘‘It is true we made a bid and it is true we like the player. It is true we would like to have him here.’’ Villa’s other January signing, Jean Makoun, has finally been granted a work permit, although the former Lyon midfielder will not be involved against City.

He is set to make his debut in Tuesday’s rearranged clash at Wigan.

Houllier said: ‘‘Makoun should get his visa today and he should be able to travel to England today. I don’t think he will be involved against Manchester City. It is too early but he might be involved against Wigan.”