Aston Villa Football Club News

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

• Ground:Villa Park
• Capacity:42,584

Top-four finish key for Barry

31 Mar 2009 - 08:03:53

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Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry says he will make a decision about his future with the Premier League club at the end of the season, with a top-four finish still his main priority.

England international Barry continues to be linked with a move to Liverpool, having come close to joining the Reds last summer.

He told reporters: "What happens in the summer if Villa don't finish fourth? These are the sort of negative comments being thrown at me that I'm trying to push away from the whole squad.

"My aim is on the eight games to go and I still believe we can finish in the top four. I'm hopeful the rest of my team-mates are too.

"The way we've played this season, there's no reason why we can't get enough points from the last eight games to be there or thereabouts.

"That is all I am focusing on and anything after that I'll deal with at the end of the season.

"The last few weeks at Aston Villa have been very disappointing. Hopefully the international break will do the whole squad good. Then we can refocus and look to push on in the last eight games.

"We're all a bit down considering where we were a month ago, sitting in third or fourth place with a nice gap. There are a lot of negative comments around at the moment.

"But we're only ever one game from turning it all around. It is certainly not a case of throwing the towel in."

Barry went on to hint that a Champions League spot could be a crucial factor in his final decision, adding: "I've yet to play in the Champions League. If I'm playing regularly there, hopefully my game can come on and make me a better international player.

"International football gives you confidence when you go back to your club. You feel a couple of feet taller, knowing you've played for one of the best countries in the world.

"That gives you a lot of confidence to go and play in the Premier League again."