Villa count on Dubai tonic to raise spirits
Sunday, 15 March 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Mar 14(AFP): Martin O'Neill is confident the Dubai sunshine will be the catalyst for Aston Villa to revive their bid for Champions League qualification this season.
Villa spent most of last week on a break designed to refresh them for the final ten games of the season, as they look to hold off Arsenal's challenge and retain fourth place in the Premier League, starting with the visit of Spurs to Villa Park Sunday.
O'Neill thought it was the perfect time for the squad to re-group after damaging defeats against Manchester City and points lost at home to Stoke City, enabled Arsene Wenger's side to move menacingly into a challenging position.
And the Ulsterman is confident he will see the benefits of Randy Lerner's decision to sanction the trip and reward his American owner with his Champions League dream come the end of the season.
Villa spent most of last week on a break designed to refresh them for the final ten games of the season, as they look to hold off Arsenal's challenge and retain fourth place in the Premier League, starting with the visit of Spurs to Villa Park Sunday.
O'Neill thought it was the perfect time for the squad to re-group after damaging defeats against Manchester City and points lost at home to Stoke City, enabled Arsene Wenger's side to move menacingly into a challenging position.
And the Ulsterman is confident he will see the benefits of Randy Lerner's decision to sanction the trip and reward his American owner with his Champions League dream come the end of the season.