Aston Villa Football Club News

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

• Ground:Villa Park
• Capacity:42,584

Petrov sets sights on top four

07 Oct 2009 - 13:21:26

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Aston Villa midfielder Stiliyan Petrov has backed the Midlands club to break into the Premier League's top four this season.

Martin O'Neill's side came close to upsetting the established order of Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal in the race for the Champions League places last season.

They eventually slipped out of the top four following a late-season slump, but Bulgaria midfielder Petrov is confident of an improvement this term.

Villa are currently seventh in the table following Monday's 1-1 draw with Manchester City.

"The experience of being in the top four for much of last season was great and we want the same again," said the Villa skipper

"The early signs have been encouraging and we played a team on Monday in Manchester City who are trying to achieve something big, but we are trying to achieve as well.

"Manchester City will be a force because they are looking to build something big, but we showed against them that we are not far from them.

"They have a chance of the top four but we do to. We can compete at this level."