Premier League is Martin O’Neill’s Holy Grail

Feb 23 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

VILLA manager Martin O’Neill has hinted again that he may rest some of his senior players in Thursday’s UEFA Cup round-32 second leg at CSKA Moscow.

The boss insists that the ‘Holy Grail’ of Villa’s season remains the Champions League.

“The irony of it all is that we spent all last year breaking our necks to try and get into the UEFA Cup,” said O’Neill.

“We started way back in July in the InterToto just to get into it because it’s like a sign of progress.

“Now we’re in the final 32 and we are maybe having second and third looks at it. I have to try and please the Villa fans, of course.

“I think that they would look at that and think the Premier League can eventually drive you into the Champions League. That’s the Holy Grail.’’