O'Neill issues Euro warning
18 Jul 2008 - 13:18:00
Martin O'Neill has warned Aston Villa against 'throwing away' all last year's hard work as they prepare to take on Odense BK at the beginning of their European campaign.
Villa face the Danish side in the first leg of their Intertoto Cup third round tie on Saturday and O'Neill has warned his players not to under-estimate their opposition.
The Midlands club booked their place in the competition after finishing sixth in last season's Premier League table.
"We felt from the outset that it would probably be the Danish team that we'd play and that has proved to be the case. It will not be easy. They'll be ahead of us in terms of fitness," O'Neill told the club's official website.
"We've had them watched in both games against TPS Turku so I've had reports and I've also got DVDs of the two games.
"They're up for the game and we've got to be ready for it. We worked so hard last year to get ourselves into this position, so there's no point in throwing it away at the first hurdle.
"I know the fans are excited about the prospect of European football and I share that excitement - I'm sure the players are also excited."