Martin O’Neill rejects Zico’s remarks
MARTIN O’Neill has accused CSKA Moscow coach Zico of “a cop-out” for slamming Villa’s style of play ahead of tomorrow night’s UEFA Cup clash.
Zico accused Villa of being over-reliant on the crossing ability of Ashley Young after last week’s round-of-32 first leg at Villa Park ended in a 1-1 draw.
But O’Neill insisted Nottingham Forest won the league and two European Cups using similar tactics with his Villa assistant John Robertson on the wing.
“I knew what way CSKA were going to play,” he said. “I knew exactly what they were going to do because I’ve seen them all play, a few of them in the flesh.
“But I wouldn’t be running round telling them how they play or what they play is good, bad or indifferent.
“We won, we being Nottingham Forest, the league championship and two European Cups, which I don’t think CSKA Moscow have won yet, by getting it out wide to a world-class winger.
“He beat a couple of players, put his foot on it for 10 minutes, did a wee bit of dribbling, whipped it in and Garry Birtles or Tony Woodcock headed it or volleyed it into the net.
“I was coming in at the back post and I witnessed all this from another angle!
“Zico would also have played in sides that could get it wide and beat players. I thought this was all part of the game.
