Van Basten wants focus on positional play against Villa

Wednesday 22 October 2008

Marco van Basten is still waiting for the first away win in the Dutch league.

Yet the football teacher has his hopes high that his team will get a result in Thursday first UEFA Cup group game at Aston Villa.

"Our positional play will need to be very good," Van Basten emphasized.

"Then we do have a chance. Our advantage vanishes when it comes to playing a physical game. It's as simple as that really."

Despite all the good intentions Van Basten knows his team are up for a tough test.

Aston Villa, still without the injured Wilfred Bouma are doing well in the English Premier League with a fifth spot.

And they had some good results in their own stadium: Liverpool were held at 0-0 and Manchester City were sent home with a 4-2 defeat.

"Aston Villa have many good and experienced players," Van Basten thinks.

"On top they play top level games in the Premier League every week. That is a big difference with Ajax, who play in the Eredivisie with a team made up of young talents. Based on their budgets Villa and Hamburg are favorites in this group."

Bad away record
Ajax are on a disappointing ninth spot in the Eredivisie and have so far gained point from their three away games.

At Willem II (2-1), Feyenoord (2-2) and Heerenveen (5-2) they conceded no less than nine goals.

"Especially in away games our positional play wasn't good and we were overrun. I have no explanation for that."

In an attempt to make his defense less vulnerable Van Basten opted for a reinforced midfield on Saturday against Groningen.

And it seems likely that he will do the same at Villa Park, meaning that Gabri, Jan Vertonghen and Rasmus Lindgren will again form the middle line on Thursday.

Expected lineup: Vermeer; Silva, Oleguer, Vermaelen, Emanuelson, Gabri, Lindgren, Vertonghen, Sarpong, Suarez, Huntelaar.