O'Neill won't change Europa stance

28 April 2010 08:41
Martin O'Neill insists he will again use his fringe players if Aston Villa find themselves in the Europa League next season.[LNB] Villa are still very much in the hunt for fourth place and a place in the Champions League.[LNB]But if they fail to make it into Europe's elite tournament, they will find themselves in the Europa League.[LNB]Last season O'Neill bore the brunt of fans backlash as he played a weakened side for an away clash at CSKA Moscow - and they were knocked out.[LNB]Villa failed to make it through the preliminary rounds this year, but O'Neill is unapologetic over his stance on the Europa League and confirmed it will continue next season.[LNB]"I will make it clear to the Aston Villa fans what we will do if we are in the Europa League," O'Neill said in the Daily Express.[LNB]"The likes of Ciaran Clark, Marc Albrighton and Nathan Delfouneso would've been given a chance so that, come this stage of the season, you'd know precisely what they're capable of.[LNB]"That experience might come in really handy in the run-up in the Premier League. That's the theory. In practice there might be a Europa League game so important that you might have to go with your senior players.[LNB]"This is my thought process and, if we're in the Europa League next season, that is what we will do. [LNB]"If we're in the Champions League then try telling Richard Dunne, who has fought so hard to get this far, that he's not playing."

Source: Team_Talk