Martin O’Neill: Aston Villa have what it takes to win group
Dec 5 2008 By Mat Kendrick
added advantage of playing the second-leg at home in the last 32.
Runners-up will be paired against sides dropping out of the Champions League.
“If we’d finished first or second in the group, which we can still do, we’d get the chance to play the second leg of the last 32 at home, which I think is an advantage,” said O’Neill.
“The way we play away from home I wouldn’t fear anybody playing in the competition, but there are some excellent sides left in it, I must admit.
“Coming off at the end we saw that Hamburg had won in Prague, but it wouldn’t really have mattered.
“Had we not gone through last night, we’d have gone through in Hamburg because we’d have gone out and got a result there.”
However, if Villa do end up finishing third in the group, it could yet prove to be a blessing in disguise.
It would remove the prospect of a potentially gruelling away tie less than 48 hours before a crucial Premier League fixture.
The first leg of the next round is scheduled to take place on February 19, just two days before Villa host Chelsea, a match which could have a noon kick off time for television coverage and is unlikely to be put back because the Stamford Bridge club’s likely Champions League commitments.
