Source: SKY_Sports
O'Neill predicts tough season
Martin O'Neill believes that qualifying for Europe next season will be more difficult let alone challenging for a UEFA Champions League spot.[LNB] The Aston Villa boss has seen his side come close to breaking the 'Big Four's' monopoly of the Premier League this season with the club battling it our with Arsenal for fourth place.[LNB]However a winless run of 12 games has seen Villa slip away in their bid to qualify for the Champions League but O'Neill's side can still be buoyed by the fact that they are likely to qualify for next season's Europa League.[LNB]But O'Neill can foresee more Premier League sides building over the summer and mounting a serious challenge for a European place including, somewhat surprisingly, the teams from the North East.[LNB]"I expect Manchester City and Tottenham to be very strong next season," he said.[LNB]"You can also imagine Everton maybe getting a bit of renewed strength. Who is also to say what might happen in the North East?[LNB]Phenomenal support"You always think those sides with phenomenal support, if they avoid the drop this season will take that as a real scare and get stronger again.[LNB]"It is very exciting - but it is very difficult."[LNB]The former Celtic boss welcomes another out-of-form team to Villa Park in Hull City on Monday.[LNB]After a dream start to life in the Premier League the Tigers are in freefall and currently sit three points off the drop zone with four games to play.[LNB]"Things like that can happen. You can go on a winless streak and wonder where the next win is coming from," O'Neill added.[LNB]"But I don't think that Hull, despite the great start they had to the season, would have foreseen a second-half of the season that has been as tough as it was - and continues to be."[LNB]
