Martin O’Neill admits his Aston Villa players would receive a massive psychological boost if they can end a 13-year wait to defeat Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League at Villa Park tomorrow evening.
Carlos Cuellar has been ruled out with a thigh injury he suffered during the 2-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last weekend.Luke Young is expected to revert to right-back with Nicky Shorey returning to the side on the opposite flank.
And the Villa boss knows his team will have to produce a performance similar to the one which earned them a 2-0 win over Arsenal to have any chance of toppling the Red Devils.
Villa last overcame United in a league meeting in the opening match of the 1995-1996 campaign when they pulled off a 3-1 home success.
But their form this season, challenging consistently for a top-four spot, suggests they have their best chance of springing a surprise this weekend for many years.
O’Neill said: “If you put things into a bit of perspective, United are a real quality side. If they are drawn in the Champions League against Inter Milan in the San Siro, they would feel they are capable of winning.
“That is not reached overnight. That is reached through years and years of big pressure matches, home and away, and they are capable. The main reason is they have outstanding players who can win games for them.
“Villa Park is a happy ground for them. Their record against us here is exceptional and they enjoy playing here.
“I generally believe records are there to be broken but I think we would need to play as well as we did at the Emirates to stop this run. Do I think we are capable of doing it? Yes.”
Rio Ferdinand faces a fitness test on a back injury before Sir Alex Ferguson finalises his Manchester United squad.
Dimitar Berbatov (hamstring) and Wes Brown (ankle) join long-term knee injury victims Paul Scholes and Owen Hargreaves on the sidelines, with Wayne Rooney expected to recover from a calf strain which kept him out of England’s midweek win in Germany.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani and Anderson will be assessed following their trip to Brazil on international duty, while teenage forward Danny Welbeck is also in the squad.
Ferguson has paid a handsome tribute to O’Neill and claimed the Irishman could lead his club into the top four this season.
At one point during his time at Celtic, O’Neill was thought of as Ferguson’s possible successor at Manchester United.
As the Scot has ruled out stepping down in the immediate future, O’Neill’s name has drifted out of the frame.
Instead, he has grasped the challenge provided by owner Randy Lerner at Villa Park with both hands, assembling an impressive squad packed with young English talent.
And Ferguson does not feel it is totally beyond the realms of possibility that Villa will have gatecrashed the top four by the season’s end.
“They can finish in the top four,” said Ferguson.
“They are level with Arsenal and not far behind us, which is a good position to be in. It will be interesting because it is such a competitive league.
“Without question, Martin O’Neill is one of the best managers in the game.
“The only way you can judge managers is how they prove themselves over a period. And the job he has done at Leicester, Celtic and now Aston Villa makes him an obvious top manager.
“He has built up a squad over the last couple of years that allows him consistent team selection.
“He doesn’t make many changes and sticks by his format all the time.”
Not that Ferguson can afford to get sidetracked by Villa’s forward momentum.
Having seen United slip eight points adrift of leaders Chelsea and Liverpool, he realises any more damage for the Red Devils could prove to be fatal, even if they do have a match in hand.
What must fill the Scot with confidence is United’s incredible record at Villa Park. Of their last 12 visits to face Villa, they have emerged victorious 11 times.
Throw in a few FA Cup semi-final triumphs, including the epic 1999 replay success against Arsenal, it is little wonder Ferguson regards it as one of his favourite grounds.
“It just seems to be a ground that suits us,” he said.
“We play well there. It is not a matter of being lucky, as you are at some grounds.”
Source: www.soccernet.com
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