UEFA: Dublin will be heaven in 2011

THERE’S no need to worry — Dublin will be heaven in 2011.

That was the message from UEFA General Secretary David Taylor yesterday as he expressed confidence that the Europa League final in Ireland’s capital will be a huge success. Taylor says that while it’s “a great shame” that some clubs have chosen to field weakened teams in this year’s UEFA Cup, he remains confident that the 2011 final in Dublin will not be devalued.

The final of the Europa League — the restructured UEFA Cup — will take place at the new Aviva Stadium on Lansdowne Road but concern about the status of the competition has been sharpened by the recent decision of clubs like Spurs and Aston Villa not to put out their strongest sides in this season’s UEFA Cup games.