Berger puts Barry in a pickle

REGARDLESS of whether Aston Villa make it into Europe this season, Patrick Berger will not be around to take part.

The Czech will leave Villa Park at the end of the season and he has advised Gareth Barry to do likewise and move to Liverpool for the chance to experience life on one of the biggest stages world football has to offer.

Rafael Benitez’s open pursuit of Barry, including publicising a £10m offer shortly before this defeat, has angered Villa manager Martin O’Neill, who is ready to offer Barry a new contract in the region of £70,000-a-week to persuade him to remain with the club he has served all his professional career.

Berger will be returning to the Czech Republic after Villa’s final game of the season and the former Liverpool midfielder has been sought out by Barry to discuss the prospect of joining Benitez’s side.

The advice dispensed will not exactly be music to the ears of O’Neill, especially on the back of a defeat which seriously damages hopes of a UEFA Cup place, one of O’Neill’s trump cards across the negotiating table with Barry.

For Berger it is simple and straightforward. “It is Liverpool and if I was in Gareth’s position I would go there tomorrow,” he said. “It is the opportunity of a lifetime in my opinion. What I would do, I would go there and try it and experience it. It would be Champions League every year and he would be challenging to win trophies every year.

“It is something different and Liverpool doesn’t come after you every year. He has had a fantastic season for us and that is why they want him and he has played well for the national team. Liverpool play for trophies every year on every stage — look at the history of the football club.”

Barry’s head has certainly been left in a whirl by all the publicity that has clung to him like iron filings to a magnet in recent days. The effect against Wigan was one of his worst performances of a stellar season, but he was not alone as Villa’s pursuit of Everton for fifth spot came off the rails in spectacular fashion as Steve Bruce and Wigan claimed certain Premier League safety in style.

For Luis Antonio Valencia to score two contrasting goals just a stone’s throw from Birmingham City, the club he left in such acrimonious circumstances earlier this season, was especially sweet.

The criticisms and claims that Alex McLeish is a better manager, from people like co-owner David Gold have stung Bruce, but he has retained his dignity and earned magnificently into the bargain.

On top of his £2m-a-year salary, Bruce has banked a further £1m bonus for keeping Wigan in the Premier League, all part of the lavish contract he was handed at the JJB stadium. Little wonder that the champagne was flowing in the Bruce household last night and it would be hard to begrudge one of the managerial good-guys the chance to toast success.

“I have not had a lot in my career as a manager, but this is special and it is nice to be able to repay Dave Whelan for showing that I was the man he wanted,” said Bruce.

ASTON VILLA (4-4-3): Carson 6, Mellberg 6, Laursen 7, Knight 4 (Berger 60, 5), Bouma 5 (Harewood 69, 5), Young 4, Petrov 4, Reo-Coker 5, Barry 5, Carew 4, Agbonlahor 4.

Subs Not Used: Taylor, Salifou, Routledge.

WIGAN (4-4-2): Kirkland 8, Boyce 6, Bramble 6, Scharner 8, Kilbane 7, Valencia 9, Brown 7, Palacios 7 (Skoko 90, 5), Koumas 7, Heskey 7 (Sibierski 89, 5), Bent 6 (King 77, 5).

Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Taylor.

REFEREE: Rob Styles (Hampshire) 7: Un-flustered and un-fussy refereeing for a change from Mr Styles. Hardly noticeable throughout the game. Although did not have one contentious decision to give.

MATCH RATING: ** Aston Villa had to win for their UEFA Cup hopes, but were completely up-staged by Wigan and Steve Bruce will not have had many more satisfactory days as a manager. Villa can have no complaints.