I want to win Carling Cup says Aston Villa manager
Sep 23 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail
MARTIN O’Neill has reassured the claret and blue faithful that he would love to lift the League Cup with Villa and understands the club’s affinity with the competition.
O’Neill sends his team into action against Cardiff tonight admitting his record in the past three seasons has failed to live up to Villa’s proud history in the tournament.
Villa won the League Cup in its inaugural year in 1961 and have since celebrated glory in the competition four more times in 1975, 1977, 1994 and 1996.
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Before joining Villa O’Neill had a fine League Cup pedigree, triumphing as a Nottingham Forest player in 1978 and 1979 and as Leicester boss in 1997 and 2000.
But Villa have suffered shock Carling Cup exits against Leicester and QPR in the past two seasons after being knocked out by Chelsea in O’Neill’s first year.
“I’m aware of our supporters’ affinity with the competition, very much so,” said O’Neill. “I am sure they would love us to get a run going in the competition, every bit as much as I would myself.
