Source: Team_Talk
Don't stop believing, says Houllier
Gerard Houllier has revealed his faith in Aston Villa match-winner Emile Heskey and urged the striker to "keep believing in himself".[LNB] Heskey came off the bench to transform Villa's fortunes during the midweek Carling Cup tie with Blackburn.[LNB]And he responded after being given his first Premier League start for six months with a late winner in the 2-1 win at Wolves.[LNB]Houllier, who signed Heskey when Liverpool manager, said: "After the Carling Cup game, I said 'well done, this is what you are capable of, and there is no reason why you can't repeat that'.[LNB]"All players need confidence. Strikers need more confidence. Everyone loves Emile at the club, he is a good team-mate.[LNB]"What he needs is to keep believing in himself.[LNB]"I don't know whether he believes in me but I believe in him. That is more important.[LNB]"Because he plays up front and sometimes misses sitters, people get on his back and maybe that has hurt him in the past.[LNB]"But Emile fights for the ball in the air, tries to keep it and links up with the midfield.[LNB]"His work-rate was phenomenal and his understanding and movement with Ashley Young is good."[LNB]Meanwhile, Houllier dismissed reports that he had asked the French Football Federation to keep his role as technical director open.[LNB]Houllier insists he asked for a sabbatical to avoid having to serve three months' notice so he could start work at Villa sooner rather than later.[LNB]He said: "When you resign, you need to serve three months' notice.[LNB]"One way of turning that around is to ask for a sabbatical and then you are free immediately."[LNB]Wolves boss Mick McCarthy was unhappy that Villa defender Stephen Warnock was still on the pitch to lay on Heskey's late winner.[LNB]He felt the England defender should have been red carded for a challenge on Kevin Doyle after having already been booked.[LNB]McCarthy said: "Listen, it is a great header by Heskey and we shouldn't take that away from him.[LNB]"We could have done better when the ball comes in but I don't think Warnock should have been on the pitch.[LNB]"If it is a foul, it is a booking. Doyle has got Fletcher on the outside of him and it is a real attacking opportunity.[LNB]"It just rankles a bit. He shouldn't be there."[LNB]McCarthy was also less than impressed with the challenge by Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell on Adlene Guedioura which led to him being stretchered off.[LNB]McCarthy said: "Adlene has gone for a scan. It doesn't look good. He tried to put his weight on it so let's hope it is bruised and nothing else.[LNB]"It's his shin. It wasn't a nice tackle."
