As featured on NewsNow: Football news

Villa's Houllier insists Dunne/Collins bust-up has not affected morale

Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier believes the recent bust-up involving defenders Richard Dunne and James Collins and coaching staff will not affect the team tomorrow.

Villa host Wolves in a vital clash at Villa Park and Houllier is confident that his squad will not let the club down after the centre-backs played up at a team bonding health spa in Leicestershire last week.

"I don't think team morale has been affected," the Frenchman said.

"As far as I am concerned, the rest of the team trained well and is ready and prepared for the Wolves game.

"We need to keep that [the incident] to one side and prepare for the Wolves game and the rest of the season. The rest of the team enjoyed the two days and it was a good exercise in terms of commitment, energy, enjoyment.

"It is an important game for us. We are at home, we've got our fans, it's a derby and players know what a derby represents for the fans.

"The nine games we have got left will be played with the same quality in terms of commitment and will to win.''

 Click here for the No1 coverage of all the gossip and transfer news around Aston Villa.

Video of the day:

Andrew Slevison
About the author

Andrew Slevison

×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

  1. Go Ad-Free
  2. Faster site experience
  3. Support great writing
  4. Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free
×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free