Aston Villa: Martin O'Neill backs Carlos Cuellar to become a star
Sep 17 2009 by Lisa Smith, Birmingham Mail
The Villa boss said: “Carlos is brave and he is aggressive and he can adjust. In time I think he will become a better user of the ball. I like his qualities and I always have done. He has a big, big heart.”
O’Neill gambled somewhat by playing Cuellar at right-back and giving debuts to his three new defenders in Dunne, Collins and Stephen Warnock in the white-hot atmosphere of a Second City derby.
“Sometimes Carlos doesn’t mind playing out of position if it means he plays a game,” O’Neill explained.
“He is essentially a centre-back but he will soon get to know the way the other two lads play.”
The Villa manager could not be more pleased with the way his defence have started playing together, despite the fact they only had a brief training session and a late night team-talk before facing Alex McLeish’s Premier League new-boys.
He is also thrilled with Cuellar’s adaptability.
“Curtis (Davies) won’t be back early so I just hope those centre-backs can stay injury free,” O’Neill said.
“Last season Carlos came to us with virtually no pre-season behind him. He had a couple of niggling injuries but he played on with that other people might not have played on with.
“I have never questioned his determination and dedication.”
