Why Stiliyan Petrov is backing rotation policy at Aston Villa
Oct 31 2009 by Lisa Smith, Birmingham Mail
STILIYAN Petrov believes manager Martin O’Neill will use a rotation policy more and more this season as the way forward with the club pursuing both league and cup success.
Villa skipper Petrov was substituted before the dramatic penalty shoot-out at the Stadium of Light in his side’s thrilling Carling Cup win over Sunderland in midweek and accepts that the manager will bring in other players when and if he feels it is necessary.
With O’Neill enjoying strength in depth in his squad for the first time since arriving at Villa three seasons ago, the skipper feels playing fringe players in cup games will become the norm.
“The manager is the one who decides the starting line-up,’’ the Bulgarian International said.
“He has players like Craig Gardner, Nicky Shorey and Emile Heskey who he can pick from whenever he needs to as well as those of us who have been starting in the majority of the games.
“It is a long season and it is good that we are all pushing each other for places in his starting line-ups.
“We all have a part to play and I have had to accept that too – I didn’t start the game in Vienna earlier in the season and that is the way it goes.
“It is something you have to accept as part of the modern game.”
Petrov is convinced, however, that competition can only bolster Villa’s strength and ensure all positions are covered even if injuries strike during the long, hard season.
“Competition for places in the end can only be healthy for the club,” he said.
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