O’Neill eyes treble against Chelsea

ASTON VILLA manager Martin O’Neill has set his sights on pulling off a treble against Chelsea on the eve of their Barclays Premier League showdown at Stamford Bridge today.

Villa have already beaten Chelsea once this season — winning 2-1 at Villa Park in October.

O’Neill is aiming to clinch a League double to revive his side’s bid to qualify for the Champions League and then follow it up by also beating Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final.

Having drawn seven of their last 10 league games, Villa badly need three points against Chelsea to stay in the race for a fourth-place finish.

O’Neill said: “They are two big games against Chelsea — no doubt about that. We have our own incentives and are still in there fighting despite the last two results being draws.

“Up and down results at this stage of the season are inevitable.

“It is a case of hanging in there and getting a couple of results — a couple of wins rather than a couple of draws — and to keep that gap there so when it gets really tight for the last four or five games we are still in there with a shout.

“Our recent record doesn’t bother me. I am not perturbed. Had it occurred in my days at Leicester I would probably have been perturbed but I was younger then.

“We are in there fighting and I am absolutely fine. It is where we finish at the end of the season that matters and the one thing I can say with absolute certainty is that my players do not give up.”

O’Neill feels the improvements shown by his squad has enabled them to compete with the likes of Chelsea.

He added: “Occasionally we are misguided but the young players are getting better and are able to compete against the top-quality sides.

“We are going to Chelsea thinking we can win the game. A couple of years ago if Aston Villa were going to Stamford Bridge it was a case of trying to keep the score down.

“But Chelsea’s record at Stamford Bridge belies belief and they have done it for a considerable period of time. They are a very fine side and will be hard to beat.”

O’Neill believes Chelsea are strong enough to take the blow of exiting the Champions League in their stride.

“Less than 10 days ago they were competing on three fronts and suddenly disaster falls,” he said.

“This is today’s story but (Chelsea boss Carlo) Ancelotti has proved himself to be a fantastic manager and I think he has been great for the game.”