Carew: Villa are on the rise

05 May 2009 15:15
Villa looked destined to break into Europe's elite club competition for the first time when they held a six-point lead over fifth-placed Arsenal at the beginning of March. But it needed Carew's goal - his 14th of the season - to end a 12-game run without a win against relegation-threatened Hull at Villa Park on Monday evening. And that guaranteed Martin O'Neill's side will be competing in the revamped Europa League next season. Carew said: "The fact we have qualified for Europe is still an achievement in itself. "We created the opportunity for ourselves to get into the Champions League. It was maybe not expected before the season that we would be so close and be in contention for so long. "But we knew we could improve from last season, when we were sixth. "We've had a great season. Of course, in the end we didn't manage to do what we had to do in the fight with Arsenal for fourth position. "But, if we can manage to stay in fifth place, then we've improved again from last season and we're just going in the right direction." Carew is confident Villa can mount a strong challenge in the Barclays Premier League in addition to Europe next season after an under-strength side bowed out at the last-32 stage of the UEFA Cup during the current campaign. He said: "I think we will be better equipped for Europe next season. That's the goal. We have improved this season and the players here are getting better and better. "What will happen to the squad, I don't know? But, with the team we have, I think we will get better each year. "We are learning each season and, if we find ourselves in the same position we did this year, fighting with the top four in the league, I think we will handle it even better. "Is the squad big enough? For the amount of games we have played this season, I think it is okay. With four competitions, the more good players we have the better, but it's not up to me to comment on that." Carew is on course to finish as Villa's top scorer for the second successive season, having already surpassed his 2007-2008 tally of 13 goals despite being sidelined for three months with a back injury. But he is more concerned about Villa finishing the season strongly than any personal glory. He said: "Finishing as top scorer is something I haven't really thought about. That's one of the least important things I think. "The most important thing is the team and that we manage to get good performances from all the players. If I score then, of course, I'm very happy and I hope to score as often as I can as a striker. "But being top scorer is not really that important. Everybody has to contribute a bit and we have to score as many goals as we can as a team and look to finish the season well and on a high." Hull are still embroiled in a relegation battle, the single-goal reversal at Villa meaning they have won only one of their last 19 league games - away at Fulham. Manager Phil Brown accepts he cannot ask for any more in terms of commitment from his players, who overcame the loss of skipper Ian Ashbee with a leg injury after only nine minutes at Villa Park. But Brown wants his players to show a bit more quality in the final three matches of the season to help them stay ahead of the bottom three of Newcastle, Middlesbrough and West Brom. He said: "In the last three games, we've got to score goals and win. I can't ask for any more spirit and commitment from the players. "I can demand more quality but the pressure-cooker situation affects players. "It was an opportunity missed. The bottom three had not got anything from their games over the weekend and it was an opportunity to put some daylight between ourselves and them."

Source: Team_Talk