Laursen backs boss' decision

Villa skipper understands O'Neill's choice to rest players

By Richard Torgerson   Last updated: 2nd March 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Laursen backs boss' decision

Laursen: Defends O'Neill

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Aston Villa captain Martin Laursen has backed manager Martin O'Neill's decision to rest key players for the UEFA Cup last 32 second leg against CSKA Moscow.

O'Neill has come in for criticism for his disregard of the competition, preferring instead to rest eight first-teamers for the Premier League clash with Stoke on Sunday.

Villa were subsequently beaten 2-0 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate by their Russian opponents as they crashed out of Europe's second-tier club competition.

With Villa fourth in the league, six points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal, the former Leicester and Celtic boss has made it his priority to make sure he leads his side into next season's UEFA Champions League.

The decision didn't have the desired effect as Villa carelessly surrendered a two-goal lead against their struggling neighbours.

Tiredness

But Laursen, currently out until April with a knee injury, has backed his manager's judgement.

"It's been a long hard season with incredibly many games," he told spn.dk.

"So I can easily understand that O'Neill chose to save some of the normal starting players. Especially since we have such good quality in our reserves.

"In the game against Chelsea there were several players that looked tired. It was just as good leaving them at home, so that they would be fit for the next Premier League game.

"That's our focus now, the goal is Champions League next season."