Friedel - 11 cup finals

Villa goalkeeper ready for Euro battle

Last updated: 2nd March 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Friedel - 11 cup finals

Friedel: Euro target

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Brad Friedel has admitted Aston Villa face '11 cup finals' as they battle to secure a UEFA Champions League berth.

Martin O'Neill's men allowed two crucial points to slip through their fingers on Sunday as they blew a 2-0 lead at home to Stoke in the final three minutes as the Potters hit back to snatch a point.

Villa remain six points ahead of nearest challengers Arsenal, with Everton two further adrift as the season draws towards what promises to be a dramatic conclusion.

Goalkeeper Friedel, who could do little to prevent Glenn Whelan's last-gasp leveller for Stoke, admits there have been occasions when the Midlands club needed to be more clinical.

He expects Arsenal and Everton to push Villa all the way but believes that O'Neill's squad has the quality to hold off their rivals.

Tough

Freidel told Sky Sports News: "You are always going to have ups and downs in a season. We have 11 games left and we're quite pleased with the position we're in.

"We're not absolutely delighted with the position we're in because there are a few games where we have lost points out on the pitch.

"We have 11 cup finals ahead of us to hopefully cement a place in the Champions League. It's going to be hard for us, it's going to be hard for a lot of teams.

"David Moyes has Everton playing really well, they are a very strong team.

"We all know how good Arsenal can be and I believe they're going to be getting some of their players back.

"It's going to be tough but hopefully the quality we have in our changing room will help us get to where we want to be."