By Ryan Ghee
August 9 2005

Aston Villa boss David O'Leary has admitted that a top-half finish is no longer Villa's target and that this season, his aim is to qualify for European football. When David O'Leary took over at Villa Park his aim was to secure the Premiership status of a team who had struggled under previous manager Graham Taylor. Two and a half years later however, he has set his sights on European qualification and has made it clear that a finish outside the top-eight is not acceptable.

Speaking to Aston Villa's official website, O'Leary said, "We finished in 10th place last season and people ask if that would be acceptable again? Well, no it won't. I want to finish higher than that...In the last couple of years we have finished in the top-ten, but we want to move it on. We want to be a club that's finishing in the top-six.

"Anywhere from eighth upwards would be great for us this season, but our goal is Europe...that is definately still the target. I've got three years left on my contract here and I want to get the club into Europe. It's what we're all striving to do."

Looking to the future of the club, O'Leary added, "Apart from getting into Europe, I want to try and build a club here where eventually, year-on-year, it is almost taken for granted that we're going to be in Europe."

This positive attitude from O'Leary will undoubtedly be welcomed by all Villa fans who have become used to the managers usual pessimism. If the manager has the belief that the team can get into Europe then the players will gain that much-needed self-belief themselves and will hopefully have the courage to lead Aston Villa back into European football.

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