Aston Villa: Moscow's plastic pitch can't be an excuse for failure says Barry
GARETH Barry has warned Aston Villa not to use CSKA Moscow’s plastic pitch as an excuse for UEFA Cup failure in Thursday’s return leg.
Martin O’Neill’s Villa travel to Russia with their round-of-32 tie against Zico and Co finely poised following last week’s 1-1 draw at Villa Park.
Barry knows from bitter experience with England how awkward the artificial surface at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow can be.
The Villa midfielder was part of Steve McClaren’s Three Lions squad who came unstuck against Russia in October 2007.
England’s 2-1 defeat was when the rot set in for McClaren as the nation’s hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008 crumbled.
But Barry insists it is up to Villa to familiarise themselves with the plastic pitch the day before the game rather than fear it.
“It is quite a difficult surface because you’re just not used to playing on it,” said Barry, who celebrates his 28th birthday tomorrow.
“You’re playing in moulded boots rather than your studs, which the majority of players wear.
“It is different, but we’ll have a day’s training beforehand and we’ll get used to it. It can’t be used as an excuse.
“It does bounce slightly differently, but not enough to be used as an excuse really. It rolls pretty straight. It doesn’t move and you get used to it pretty quickly to be honest.
“You’ve got to try and be experienced and not worry about it at all. You’ve just got to play your normal game.”
Barry feels Villa should be heading into the second tie with a ‘half-time’ lead after piling pressure on CSKA at Villa Park.
But the stand-in skipper is hoping that playing away will suit the counter-attacking style of O’Neill’s happy travellers.
