Baros critical of Villa style

Milan Baros says Aston Villa's style of play was closer to 'fighting than playing football'.

Milan Baros has spoken of his relief at leaving Aston Villa, and says the style of play there was closer to 'fighting than playing football'.

The Czech Republic international moved to Lyon in January in a swap deal with John Carew, and has scored four times in his nine games so far for the French champions.

The 25-year-old feels at the top of his game right now, and is pleased to have joined a club that suits his career goals.

"Everything has moved to where I wanted at Lyon," he told CTK. "Now it has taken the right course and everything is going according to plan. I feel excellent, both physically and mentally."

And while Baros admits he did not produce his best form at Villa Park, he feels that was in part due to Villa's reliance on the long ball.

"To be honest, the last six months at Villa was a kind of survival. Neither I nor the club was doing well and everything was much more difficult.

"We play football at Lyon, not long ball tactics. It was very difficult at Aston Villa in that respect - it was more like fighting than playing football.

"There, I got one chance in a game, sometimes not even that. At Lyon, I have three or four chances a game."

As the dominant side in France and a side that regularly competes in the UEFA Champions League, Lyon are a club that is always in the public eye.

"Aston Villa were a bit outside the main interest. Not many people were noticing the club.

"Lyon have been playing in the Champions League over the last few years, they have more fans and the pressure from the media is much bigger. It is similar to when I played for Liverpool."

Roma knocked Lyon out of Europe after losing 2-0 at home in the second leg of the first knockout stage, but Baros feels the better team won.

"Roma fully deserved to get through. They were way better than us in the second leg.

"It is a difficult competition in which you cannot say, 'Just win it'. Look at Chelsea: they have a superb team and still have not won it."

Baros was left on the substitutes' bench for the second leg of the clash, but accepts the coach's decision.

"The lads qualified for the competition and it would not be fair to come and take, for example, Fred's place.

"I expected, though, that I would be given a chance when the score was not good for us, but the coach decided to use someone else.

"It is not pleasant to miss these big games, but you simply have to accept it. I hope I will be given a chance in the future."