Source: SKY_Sports
Young pleased with progress
Ashley Young has told skysports.com that Aston Villa should be proud of their achievements this season.
Martin O'Neill's side looked for long periods to be heading towards a top-four finish, and an accompanying UEFA Champions League spot.
A 12-match winless run put pay to those aspirations, though, with Arsenal having usurped them in the race to snatch the final qualification place for Europe's premier club competition.
However, continental football will be returning to Villa Park next term, with a Europa League spot already secured, and Young believes the club continue to head in the right direction.
"We started off the season by saying if we finish higher than we did last season, then we would have had a good season and we are on course to do that at the moment," the PFA Young Player of the Year told skysports.com.
"Obviously we were fourth for a long time and everybody's expectations were that we should finish fourth. There is a little bit of disappointment around the squad, but we have got two games left and our main focus is on finishing fifth.
Blip
"Obviously we didn't want to go through a blip, but everybody has them. I think everyone doesn't realise how early we came back for this season. We started the Intertoto Cup in July and it has been a long season.
"There is a bit of disappointment we could finish fourth, but we just wanted to finish higher than last year."
Young also feels that Villa will be among the challengers towards the top of the Premier League table next term.
"Of course we will. As long as we start like we did this season, we will be there or thereabouts," he said.
"We need to make our home form better than it has been this season, and add it to the away form we have enjoyed, but I think everyone is pulling in the right direction and the club is moving forward."
PFA Young Player of the Year Ashley Young wears adidas F50 boots - a fully customisable boot also worn by stars such as David Villa, Lionel Messi, Emmanuel Adebayor, and Jermain Defoe. For more information please call 0870 2404 204 or visit www.adidas.com/football
