- guardian.co.uk, Friday 3 April 2009 22.00 BST
Aston Villa's manager Martin O'Neill believes his side can still pip Arsenal for fourth place. Photograph: Jon Super/AP
Martin O'Neill has issued a bullish message ahead of Sunday's trip to Old Trafford by insisting that Aston Villa are capable of beating Manchester United and also have a "strong chance" of qualifying for the Champions League. Villa have failed to win in eight matches and have fallen behind Arsenal, but O'Neill refuses to concede their pursuit of fourth spot is forlorn and pointed to United's unexpected slump in form as evidence of the surprises football can deliver.
The Villa manager admitted that confidence has suffered in recent weeks and acknowledged Arsenal are now favourites to finish above them, but he also maintains that with a "bit more self-belief" his players can overhaul Arsène Wenger's side over the final eight matches. "Regardless of this game on Sunday, we will be battling to the end and I think that we still have a strong chance of breaking into the top four," said O'Neill.
"We have had some poor results and confidence has taken a setback but I would have said that it's far from completely shattered. It's up to us now to battle on and why can't we not do something in the game [at Old Trafford], because we've got the talent. It's about getting a bit more self-belief about ourselves and my own view is that we'll give this a fight right to the end of the season and hopefully we'll be in the shake-up."
O'Neill was keen to ensure that his positive tone was not dismissed as misguided. "This is not Lord Cardigan and the Charge of the Light Brigade," he said, alluding to the 1854 battle of Balaclava, before returning to a subject that his players will be more comfortable discussing. "At this minute the top four looks a lost cause to anyone from the outside; Arsenal have some momentum and we're dipping but we've still got a possibility and, while that remains, it's not a lost cause.
"We're capable of turning it around. The reason I say that is firstly I know that can happen and secondly we all thought a few weeks ago that Manchester United had the championship wrapped up. Now it's a different ball game. We could find ourselves by Sunday evening six points adrift of fourth spot. But we are still in the hunt. The form has been poor so what I'm saying seems like it has a hollow ring to it but we're capable."