Source: SKY_Sports
O'Neill - No regrets
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill defended his decision to field a below-strength side as Uefa Cup hopes were ended by a 2-0 defeat at CSKA Moscow.[LNB] O'Neill left most of his senior players behind to prepare for Sunday's Premier League clash against Stoke as Villa went out 3-1 on aggregate.[LNB]There were eight changes to the Villa team that lost to Chelsea last weekend and they rarely looked like getting the goal they needed as Yuri Zhirkov scored after an hour and Vagner Love added a second in injury time.[LNB]Disappointed"I'm disappointed we've gone out of the competition," said O'Neill, whose focus is on securing a top-four league finish and a place in next season's UEFA Champions League.[LNB]"But we've played a lot of games this year, 11 or 12 more than we did throughout the whole of last season.[LNB]"It's not a decision that was taken lightly, and if I had thought of playing just young players then we would not have travelled here on Tuesday, stayed the three nights and gone back on Friday.[LNB]"Circumstances forced me into making my decision, and while I am disappointed we were beaten I will have to see what the rest of the season brings to see if that disappointment is worsened."[LNB]EquippedVilla missed out on a last-16 tie against Tottenham or Shakhtar Donetsk but O'Neill believes the Midlands club will be even better equipped to tackle Europe next season.[LNB]He added: "We have played very strongly this year and that's why we are in the position we're in and we don't want to give it up lightly.[LNB]"Given another opportunity, something this football club should be able to obtain, I think the experiences we've had, from July (the Intertoto Cup) through to now, will stand this team in good stead."[LNB]CSKA's victory in freezing conditions on their artificial pitch at the Luzhniki Stadium was a first home success for recently appointed coach Zico.[LNB]The Brazilian said: "I am satisfied with the game. We had an overwhelming advantage, and I am delighted we've managed to get through to the next round.[LNB]"The two games were a challenge against a Villa team doing well in the Premier League, but our professionalism and the high quality of our players managed to overcome any difficulties."[LNB]
