Source: Team_Talk
Young: Villa must stop the rot
Ten days ago Martin O'Neill's side crashed out of the FA Cup at Everton, and then last Saturday their unbeaten 13-game run in the Premier League came to an end at home to Chelsea.[LNB]In between, Villa were held to a 1-1 home draw in the first leg of their last-32 UEFA Cup tie with a CSKA Moscow side currently in pre-season.[LNB]It is hard to imagine Villa will take their place in the last 16 in light of O'Neill's cull of his squad as he has opted to leave the majority of his stars at home to watch the game on television.[LNB]But Young, one of only three players who has travelled to Moscow and who started against Chelsea, feels it is vital the club get back to winning ways.[LNB]"When we found ourselves on a winning run, sometimes we weren't playing particularly well, but we were winning games and it became a habit," reflected defender Young.[LNB]"With this run we're on now, we want to stop the rot as soon as possible, so if we get a win in Moscow then it will lift us again.[LNB]"It's a tie we're still in, one we can win, and once you get past that then anything could happen.[LNB]"The lads will feel it was a waste of time putting in all the effort we did last Wednesday if we're not going to go over there and try and finish the job.[LNB]"It's also about the effort we put in last season and since the middle of July.[LNB]"It's no good playing games in mid-July if you get to this stage and then you don't have a go at it.[LNB]"Hopefully we'll give a good account of ourselves and maybe nick something."[LNB]Many would suggest O'Neill is hardly 'giving it a go' in dropping Gareth Barry, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashley Young, Brad Friedel, James Milner, Carlos Cuellar, Stiliyan Petrov and Emile Heskey.[LNB]But with the target a place in next season's Champions League, there is a fear fatigue could undermine their end-of-season push.[LNB]"It is a concern," assessed Young looking ahead at the schedule as Villa face Stoke on Sunday and Manchester City next Wednesday in the league.[LNB]"You have to try and win every single game if you want to compete with the top four, who at the moment are playing in midweek, the weekend, then midweek again.[LNB]"That's what we're doing at the moment, and it is a grind, it is tough.[LNB]"Last Wednesday (against CSKA) we put in such an effort to get back in the game, and then the thought was 'Oh my God, I'm going to be warming up again soon ready for an early kick-off on Saturday'.[LNB]"For a few of us the legs were a bit tired against Chelsea, but you get your head round it and move on.[LNB]"It's what the top sides do, and what we have to do if we are to be like them.[LNB]"We have to put it to the back of our mind, get on with it, keep going and plugging away."[LNB][LNB][LNB]
