Villa fans have a part to play - O'Neill

Nov 8 2006

MARTIN O'Neill has paid a glowing tribute to Villa's huge army of supporters before the biggest night of his brief tenure in charge.

O'Neill sends his troops out at Stamford Bridge with 6,000 visiting fans giving the club their biggest following since the FA Cup Final at Wembley over six years ago.

"There should be a terrific atmosphere," a humbled O'Neill said. "To take over twice as many down as we did a few weeks ago is unbelievable. It is great, really brilliant."

O'Neill is desperate to repay the fans for their warmth over the past three months.

"The supporters have given me a great welcome, and I am so delighted with it, it isn't true," he said. "I am a dreamer really in life, then in the very late evening I am a bit of a realist.

"I know that winning football games will give me a chance of fulfilling all the things that I would like to do here. We might not get remotely close, but it is worth aspiring to."

O'Neill admits that even a Chelsea containing many changes will be more than a match for most sides.

And he says there will be even more of an edge to them following their defeat at Tottenham.

But he says Villa are similarly buoyed by their good form and recent draw at Stamford Bridge in the Premiership.

"I think Chelsea now, having the wherewithal, are chasing everything in sight. That is why this draw is particularly difficult," he said. "But our result down there should give us a bit of a boost."

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