Aston Villa Football Club News

• Nickname:The Villains
• Founded:1874
• Manager:Alex McLeish

• Ground:Villa Park
• Capacity:42,584

O'Neill defends Euro selection

24 Feb 2009 - 15:51:06

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Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has admitted the pursuit of Champions League football is undermining his club's UEFA Cup ambitions.

O'Neill has left eight first-team players at home ahead of Thursday's UEFA Cup last 32 second leg trip to face CSKA Moscow.

Gareth Barry, Brad Friedel, Emile Heskey, James Milner, Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Carlos Cuellar and Stiliyan Petrov have all been omitted as O'Neill looks to keep his key players fresh for Premier League action.

The tie is level at 1-1 following last week's first leg at Villa Park, while Saturday's league defeat to Chelsea saw the Midlands club drop down to fourth in the league table.

"Chasing a top-four spot to get a Champions League place is everything," said O'Neill.

"We don't really have the size of squad that Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal can call on.

"That's not being defeatist - that's just being realistic.

"We have to try and please Villa fans but I am sure they would think that the Premier League, which can help drive you into the Champions League, is the holy grail.

"It seems strange I know but had we been seventh, eighth or ninth, let's say, in the table, it would have been a different outlook."