Steve Sidwell is confident that Aston Villa can secure a top four finish in the Premier League this season.
Villa midfielder expects top four finish
Steve Sidwell is confident that Aston Villa can secure a top four finish in the Premier League this season.
Martin O'Neill's side currently occupy fourth spot in the table and are looking well on course to claim a UEFA Champions League place.
They sit three points clear of closest challengers Arsenal and are presently enjoying an eight-game unbeaten run.
Sidwell, a summer arrival from Chelsea, insists Villa's success has come as no surprise to him and is backing the Midlands club to carry their fine form through until the end of the campaign.
"If you look at the way things are going at the moment, we are probably the in-form team in the Premier League," said the midfielder.
"We are fourth. We are there because of our results, whether we have deserved them or not. It is a good time for the club.
"The ability is there to keep it going. We have shown it so far this season and it is down now to us. We are in a great position to finish in the top four.
"We couldn't have asked a better position to be in coming out of Christmas and into January to try and finish fourth.
Pressure
"Of course, it all boils down to where you are in May and, if you are not there then, it could be a disappointing season.
"But I think we can handle the pressure if we stay in top four."
Sidwell also believes Villa's rise to prominence has fully justified his decision to call time on a frustrating spell at Stamford Bridge.
He added: "I've missed a lot of football in the past year or so and this is why I came to this football club, to start playing.
"It would have been easy to stay at Chelsea and take the money but that is not me. That is not my attitude towards the game. I just want to go out there and play.
"I went to Chelsea to try and better myself and that is the reason I left Chelsea, to try and improve.
"Before I went to Chelsea, I sat down with my agent and my family and decided to give it a year to 18 months and, if we didn't get a sniff (of playing), then we would start making decisions.
"Obviously, it came after 12 months that Villa showed an interest and it was too good to turn down."
