Martin O'Neill has no doubts about defender Olof Mellberg's commitment to the Aston Villa campaign for a place in Europe next season despite comments attributed to the player suggesting he already has one eye on Italy.
Sweden international Mellberg has known for some time that he would be moving to Juventus at the end of the season and this week, while away on international duty, it was reported that he was looking forward to joining a side with genuine credentials and ambition to challenge for honours.
That was not the problem; the problem was that he added: "with all due respect to Aston Villa, they have never had the possibility to challenge in that way."
Notwithstanding the fact that Mellberg's comments are perfectly accurate given the predominance of certain clubs in the Barclays Premier League since he arrived in English football seven years ago, the player stressed yesterday that Villa has provided him with the "best footballing years" of his career and emphasised his desire to end his stay in Birmingham on a high by securing a place in Europe.
Either way, O'Neill was unfazed. He said: "I haven't seen Olof's comments. There's always some sort of story when players go away on international duty and get asked about their clubs.
"I have no problem whatsoever with Olof playing the remaining games for us."
Mellberg could return to the Villa side to face Manchester United tomorrow following his sending-off against Portsmouth.
The 30-year-old player said: "It would be nice to finish on a high and qualify for Europe and for the club to take another step next season.
"It will be hard to leave because I've had a great time here my best footballing years and have made many friends.
"I feel a lot for the club and for the fans and people within the club as well. It has been a great time."
Given a run of four games without a win, it seems highly unlikely that Villa's squad the smallest in the division will be able to stay apace with Everton and Liverpool for the final European places.
However, a place via the InterToto Cup route is still a possibility, and that would signify a decent season for the club and an improvement on last term.
Mellberg added: "There's quite a gap now up to the fifth spot. But we're still challenging for the Inter-Toto with Man City and Portsmouth so we still have a chance to qualify for Europe.
"We've got other young talented players (as well as Agbonlahor and Young) who are doing well so I think the future is bright."
Not that the 30-year-old will be a part of it. Before signing his pre-contract agreement at the Stadio Olimpico in January, Mellberg had been consistently linked with a move to Juventus.
The prospect of playing in Serie A and possibly the Champions League proved too good to turn down.
"I thought it was the right time to move," he said. "They've been interested in me for quite some time and they've followed me both with the national team and Villa.
"They've got a great manager and it's also one of the biggest clubs in the world so it was an opportunity that was right to take.
"I am following them all the time now, I'm watching all their games on television.
"They're doing well at the moment. It's important that we qualify for the Champions League and we're up there challenging."
Before joining Juve, Mellberg will travel to Austria and Switzerland this summer for the European Championships.
"I would definitely have liked to have seen England there," he added. "England belong in the major championships. They're always great games to play.
"We've obviously played them quite a lot of times and we always enjoy those games. I think that always adds a little bit extra to the tournament, having the big nations there, so I think it's a shame."
