Carlos Cuellar says Aston Villa can turn top four dream into a reality

Nov 11 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail

CARLOS Cuellar insists Champions League-chasing Villa have entered the international break with renewed confidence that they can gatecrash the Premier League top four.

Villa’s 5-1 thrashing of Bolton last Saturday has left Martin O’Neill’s men perfectly poised in fifth place ahead of their next Premier League match at Burnley in ten days’ time.

And Cuellar, who excelled in his preferred central defensive role against the Trotters, insists the victory came at an opportune time after two draws and a defeat away from home.

“I am happy to play anywhere,” said the Spaniard, whose previous first-team chances have come out of position at right-back this season and most of last term.

“I will play wherever I am needed, but the most important thing is to play for the team and try to help the team defend. We had failed to win the last three games before Bolton and that was disappointing for us. That is another three points and that is very important for us. We have confidence with us now and we are making good progress. We are still confident we can get into the top four of the league.”

Cuellar is full of praise for John Carew following his match-winning display against Bolton and admits he is glad to have the Norwegian battering ram as a team-mate rather than an opponent.