O’Neill can’t rule out a showdown in Hamburg

Oct 10 2008 By Bill Howell

VILLA boss Martin O‘Neill admits he is ready for the possibility of taking on Martin Jol for a place in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup.

Because the Villa boss has not ruled out the prospect of Holland legend Marco van Basten throwing a spanner in the works in the opening match.

If Villa finding themselves needing to beat Jol’s Hamburg side in Germany in the final Group F game on December 17, then O’Neill’s campaign will not have gone to plan.

This week’s UEFA draw put Villa in the same group as Ajax, coached by van Basten, Czech side Slavia Prague and apparent outsiders Zilina from Slovakia.

Villa will play all three before meeting former Spurs boss Jol and, on paper, it should be ‘job done’ for O’Neill by then.

Three teams will qualify but O’Neill remains typically cautious with Ajax to play first this month at Villa Park.

“We might need to go to Hamburg to get something to qualify,” said the Villa boss who reached the UEFA Cup Final with Celtic in 2003 before losing to Jose Mourinho’s Porto.

“The opportunity is there for us to begin with and we start with a big game at home. I think it’s a great tie but it’s one which throws pressure on us immediately. Marco was one of the great players and Ajax have fantastic pedigree and history.

“If we have to go to Hamburg and win then so be it. I would assume seven points would be enough to get you through, that’s really what we are looking for.

“Prague have been involved in Champions League football for the last couple of years.

“That’ll be difficult.

“After that we have the home tie against Zilina. Who knows what might happen?”