New Villa signing Steve Sidwell is hoping the Intertoto Cup will provide with a chance to showcase his skills in Europe after a season in the shadows at Chelsea.
Villa take on Danish outfit Odense BK at their Fionia Park ground in Saturday’s third-round tie, knowing a win would take them one step closer to qualification for the UEFA Cup.
The winners will qualify for the second qualifying round of the competition, with a place in the first-round proper up for grabs.
Sidwell, who made his first appearance in a Villa shirt on British soil in last night’s friendly defeat at Lincoln, found first-team opportunities hard to come by at Stamford Bridge - the midfielder played only six minutes of European football last season.
Martin O’Neill ended his summer-long pursuit of Sidwell last Thursday when he signed the 25-year-old for around £5million.
The former Arsenal trainee now hopes to use his brief experience in European football to his advantage.
Sidwell said: “Playing in Europe for any team is a massive thing for any player and any club.
“I had a taste of it in the Champions League last season with Chelsea and I’d love to play a big part in a UEFA Cup run with Villa.”
Sidwell dismissed fears that taking part in the cup would tire the squad out.
He said: “It makes it a long season ahead but I missed a lot of football. We’re working very hard in training to make sure we don’t get caught cold on Saturday.”
Team-mate Marlon Harewood believes Sidwell’s arrival can help Villa’s bid to break the big four’s stranglehold on the Champions League places next season.
He said: “Anything is possible. If we can get a team together with good team spirit, the lads start performing then anything can happen.
“We had a small squad last year and we did really well. I think Martin will be trying to work on that and get more players in and hopefully he does that.
“If we get players like that in then you never know.”
Harewood has warned his team-mates they cannot afford to take Saturday’s opponents for granted.
He said: “It’s a great opportunity for Villa to get into Europe but we can’t enter the game thinking like that.”
3 Comments
I’m not so worried about how we will do in the inter toto cup, I’m more concerned with how well we do in the league. While I agree it is the only opportunity we have to play in Europe and that it will serve its purpose, I wont be too upset if we don’t win it. Hopefully, Steve Sidwell and the rest of the players will get their wish and enter one or other of the European competitions by automatic right. Getting into Europe via the Inter Toto is ok, but getting automatic status proves we will be a better team, better prepared and able to compete with the very best and that will suit me fine.
Rule Europe? are you havin a laugh? Get real.
Rule Europe? You are seriously having a laugh ginger.