Close menu

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert ready for '12 cup finals'

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments90

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert

Paul Lambert says his Aston Villa side must be prepared for "12 cup finals" as they battle to avoid the drop from the Premier League.

The Birmingham side are currently 17th, a point above 18th-place Reading, as they go into Saturday's match at Arsenal.

"There's no point in looking back and thinking, 'We should have got points here and there'," said the Villa boss.

"From now on in it's 12 cup finals and that's the way we have to view it."

He added: "We lost two-goal leads against Manchester United, West Brom and Everton. It's tough when that happens because those points could have made a major difference.

"We have to be ready for it and win more times than not."

Villa, who did not play at the weekend, go to their 27th league fixture of the campaign on the back of a victory against West Ham.

Lambert is confident his side can build on that success.

"The feeling to try to win is there," said the 43-year-old former Norwich manager. "When you get knocked and knocked at every opportunity, you have to take the game by the scruff of the neck and influence it.

"The last few games we have thought, 'We'll have some of this'. You can't go out and play football like it's a hobby.

"It's your job to win. The confidence is high at the moment."

Comments

Join the conversation

These comments are now closed.

90 comments

  • Comment posted by Simon_P, at 14:11 18 Feb 2013

    Based on their recent cup performances, if Villa treat every game like a cup game, then they are doomed.

  • Comment posted by Simon_P, at 13:57 18 Feb 2013

    Aston Villa are going to hold the record for most cup final defeats in a season.

  • Comment posted by BiggyBear, at 13:52 18 Feb 2013

    Surely he's the best manager in England right now though?

  • Comment posted by jp, at 13:53 18 Feb 2013

    If they didn't lose over two legs to a league two team they would have thirteen cup finals to look forward too....

  • Comment posted by AstonVillan, at 19:32 18 Feb 2013

    Villa can stay up yet, but even if they don't then they shouldn't scapegoat Paul Lambert - he did spend 20m in the summer but he basically had to rebuild an entire squad, as Villa have continually sold their best players and are sorely missing Dunne and Petrov. If they sack Lambert at the end of the season then they won't get anyone better and could do a lot a worse...

  • Comment posted by U15600715, at 14:58 18 Feb 2013

    qpr reading and wigan to go down

  • Comment posted by U15174330, at 13:52 18 Feb 2013

    There's no point in looking back and thinking, 'We should have got points here and there'," said the Villa boss.

    We lost two-goal leads against Manchester United, West Brom and Everton. It's tough when that happens because those points could have made a major difference.

    Ummm?

  • Comment posted by U15552697, at 16:32 18 Feb 2013

    It will be a shame to see Villa get relegated, okay they haven't been at their best, but looking at the squad there are some players with great potential, for example Benteke, and if Villa get relegated players are going to move on elsewhere, Villa to me have the biggest fight on there hand as the squad is young and the relegation battlers are begininng to pick up points, good luck Villa

  • Comment posted by Vox Populi, at 15:30 18 Feb 2013

    The lads have got 12 cup finals in front of them, they will take each game as it comes, they'll give 110%, they're not taking anything for granted as there are no easy games in this division, they'll be sick as a parrot if they go down but they'll be over the moon if they manage to stay up.

  • Comment posted by wwfcreal, at 14:11 18 Feb 2013

    Paul Lambert has just used a cliche that's almost as bad as his management abilities.

  • Comment posted by U15621204, at 20:03 18 Feb 2013

    good job your not playing any league 2 teams!

  • Comment posted by U15591560, at 19:54 18 Feb 2013

    I did not expect anything from villa this season because we all knew things had to change at villa park, Mcleish was sacked, lambert employed and his signings were a refreshing change to the norm ( young with potential), i firmly believe that we will not go down and still see Lambert one day becoming a great manager at villa. Rome wasn't built in a day.

  • Comment posted by U13907462, at 16:24 18 Feb 2013

    @24
    Don't think it would have much of a difference tbh. AV's problem is that they're in transition and trying to blood younger players who will be the future of the club is very difficult in a relegation dogfight season. IMO it's the senior players who have let themselves and the club down through loss of form and character. If Villa survive and can keep the youngsters, they'll be better for it.

  • Comment posted by U15434379, at 14:49 18 Feb 2013

    @charles MPV lol this the same Norwich who were getting beat 7 - 1 and from then on lambert took u to the prem n kept u in it???

    hes a class manager and time will show it. Randy Lerners falut not lamberts - looks wat happens when he gets cash , benteke , westwood,vlaar, guzan free, lowton ......

  • Comment posted by U15575063, at 14:10 18 Feb 2013

    I do hope Villa stay up.

    Purely because my missus is a Villain and I can't be doing with the moaning.

  • Comment posted by The Nimsh, at 14:06 18 Feb 2013

    Its not the manager who is out playing for 90 mins. His players should be docked 50% of their wages if they dont perform to their abilities.

  • Comment posted by U4300706, at 14:05 18 Feb 2013

    Oh I can't stand it when managers say this. Basically he just said if they lose one more game, it's all over. Well there's not going to be a lot of motivation if they do lose now is there!

  • Comment posted by Villa86, at 14:03 18 Feb 2013

    I wouldn't say that lambert. Don't think our boys really like cup finals...

  • Comment posted by U15264562, at 04:28 19 Feb 2013

    Villa are crap......statz don't lie.....

  • Comment posted by Josh , at 23:24 18 Feb 2013

    Totally the right attitude from Lambert. Every game is huge for us now, and the cup final mentality is what we need.

Top Stories