Mellberg: Villa weren't good enough - March 16, 2006
Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg insists they were simply not good enough against Manchester City in their FA Cup tie.
David O'Leary's side were just seconds away from a place in the quarter-finals when they led City 1-0 deep into injury time of the initial fifth-round tie at Villa Park.
But with virtually the last touch, rising 17-year-old City star Micah Richards headed home the equaliser to set up the replay win at Eastlands.
Centre-back Mellberg told the club's website: "We can have no complaints.
"We didn't play well enough over the two games, and they created far more chances than we did.
"We were hoping a good run in the Cup would help us in the League as well, but now we have to lift ourselves for the last nine games of the season.
"We've lost two games together now and we have another very hard game at Everton on Saturday.
"It's hard to think about that game at the moment because we're so disappointed."
David O'Leary's side were just seconds away from a place in the quarter-finals when they led City 1-0 deep into injury time of the initial fifth-round tie at Villa Park.
But with virtually the last touch, rising 17-year-old City star Micah Richards headed home the equaliser to set up the replay win at Eastlands.
Centre-back Mellberg told the club's website: "We can have no complaints.
"We didn't play well enough over the two games, and they created far more chances than we did.
"We were hoping a good run in the Cup would help us in the League as well, but now we have to lift ourselves for the last nine games of the season.
"We've lost two games together now and we have another very hard game at Everton on Saturday.
"It's hard to think about that game at the moment because we're so disappointed."
