GINOLA AND ALPAY UNVEILED
Ginola, who has signed in a £3 million deal from Tottenham Hotspur, wants to get a final chance to shine on the European stage, should Villa gain entry to the Uefa Cup by winning the InterToto Cup.
"I am very happy," said Ginola. "I want to look forward to the future and to give my best for Aston Villa to contribute to the success of the club. I am very pleased to work with Mr Gregory and I am sure that everything will be fine.
"I heard people saying to me that, biologically, at 33 you are not ready and prepared to make effort and play your best but I can tell you that I am prepared and I will do it.
"This is the only club that really wants me and that was enough for me. They were willing to pay the transfer fee and £3m at my age is a lot of money so that is it and I am very pleased.
"I motivated the guys and said you must go through because it is important for the club to be involved in European Cups. Obviously, the players get more experience, play against different football and travel abroad so I hope and I am sure we will be in the Uefa Cup.
"I played for four years in Paris and we won, at Newcastle it was different because were in the European Cup but did not succeed. At Spurs we lost in the second round (of the Uefa Cup) and it was not enough.
"I hope we will have the chance to play this year and to be successful because you can show the club to the rest of Europe and it is very important for the image of the club."
Villa chairman Doug Ellis was obviously pleased to tie up the two deals, especially that of Alpay, saying: "Alpay was considered to be the best centre half in the European Championships.
"We mustn't forget that but we have the best centre half in Europe and the most exciting player in Europe in David Ginola.
"It is quite an honour for all of us at Aston Villa to have the two players join us today and I really, really believe that we are going to go places this year."
Click here to listen to David Ginola's comments
Click here to listen to further comments from David Ginola and Doug Ellis
Click on a link below to read our previous stories confirming the duo's transfers:
30/07/00 - Ginola Completes Villa Switch
20/07/00 - Villa Land Alpay
