Aston Villa: Martin O'Neill insists he was right to rest players despite draw

Mar 2 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

“The irony of it all is when we played the game in CSKA, we had two young debutants who did very well in the game.

“We are making ground in the last couple of seasons. We were in the last 32 and it is still a long way from home. It wasn’t the last 16 or the last eight.

“I might have had a different thought if it were down to the last eight at that stage. I admit that.

“Had we won yesterday, it wouldn’t have been a vindication of what you do. It would have been a reason.”

O’Neill stressed that the decision was nothing to do with finances involved in the Champions League.

“Absolutely not. For me it is to do with the kudos of attempting to battle it out there,” he said.

“Not for one minute do I think the UEFA Cup is unimportant. It is in terms of priority, I had to make a decision.

“The chairman has entrusted me with the running of the football club and, if I run it poorly, I know the consequences.

“I am a football manager and that is my job.”

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