Source: SKY_Sports
Friedel focused on fifth
Brad Friedel believes finishing fifth this season will show Aston Villa are making progress.[LNB] Villa finished sixth last term and Friedel is keen for Martin O'Neill's men to improve on that by taking fifth spot in the table.[LNB]Villa looked well placed for a top-four finish earlier in the campaign, but an eight-point lead has been surrendered to Arsenal following a disastrous run of form.[LNB]Friedel and Villa are just two points clear of sixth-placed Everton with four games remaining and the American keeper believes clinching fifth spot would still be a successful season.[LNB]"I think it is massively important that we finish in fifth this season. If we do that, it's been a step up from the previous campaign. That would be great," said Friedel.[LNB]Progression"As long as there is a progression made, everyone - the fans, chairman, manager and players - will be upbeat about the coming season. [LNB]"If we do miss out, it won't be a lost season but it is important to see one of our goals achieved and that was finishing higher than last season. That would give us a boost ahead of the coming season."[LNB]Friedel added: "Saying that, if someone had offered me fifth at the start of the season, I wouldn't have accepted it. When I was doing all my talks before I joined, the ambition of the club was impressed upon me. [LNB]"I'm not saying it's a god-given right [to finish fourth] but we had a great chance at one stage to solidify our place in fourth. [LNB]"It wasn't to be and certainly doesn't mean this season is a throw-away. But if you handed me fifth at the start, I wouldn't have taken it, I would have played the season through and seen what happened."[LNB]
