Source: Team_Talk
Friedel sure Villa will last pace
A tough seven days last week saw Martin O'Neill's side crash out of the FA Cup at Everton as well as lose their unbeaten 13-game run in the Premier League at home to Chelsea.[LNB]Sandwiched in between, Villa could only manage a 1-1 home draw in the first leg of their last 32 UEFA Cup clash at home to a CSKA Moscow side currently in pre-season.[LNB]With O'Neill threatening to field a weakened side for the second leg on Thursday as he focuses on chasing a Champions League place for next season, there is every danger Villa's campaign could come off the rails.[LNB]But veteran goalkeeper Friedel, likely to be one of those rested for the game at the Luzhniki Stadium, is confident that will not happen.[LNB]"If you look at the game with Everton we had every chance to score the equaliser just before half-time, and then after it we were the better team," assessed Friedel.[LNB]"They then scored the killer third goal, so it wasn't as if we were played off the park or anything of that nature.[LNB]"Against Moscow we were in the ascendancy and could have come out comfortable winners.[LNB]"And then against Chelsea, some say could have, some say should have, some say maybe not, but we could have got a result.[LNB]"It's not as if we are losing form. We are just going to have to dust ourselves off and go again.[LNB]"You go back to the training ground, work really hard and try to put it right in the next game, if there was anything so wrong that you need to put right.[LNB]"We've an excellent squad, with some tremendous players in the dressing room from top to bottom."[LNB]Whatever side O'Neill fields on Thursday, they will all have to contend with the plastic pitch at the Luzhniki Stadium.[LNB]It was at that ground in October 2007 that England were beaten 2-1 by Russia, a result which played a major part in then manager Steve McClaren's side failing to reach Euro 2008.[LNB]Playing down the significance of the surface, Friedel added: "It is different because you have to adjust to the pace and bounce of the ball.[LNB]"But it's not something that's so foreign you can't cope with it.[LNB]"Plastic pitches nowadays are not as brutal as you might think, and as a goalkeeper you can get away with not wearing leggings as they have become that soft.[LNB]"I've one at my academy, and I tried them all out before I put one down."[LNB][LNB] Aston Villa v Stoke. Click here to bet.[LNB]
