Olof Mellberg - 42 000 Shirts Were Too Much!

Olof Mellberg has spoken again on the Villa, despite recently parting company and joining Juventus where he'll be playing Champions League footie next season.

The Bearded wonder, said on the official site:

'I have mixed feelings. It was really nice to be able to finish off this way - we were looking to qualify for Europe all season and we managed to do it. Even though it's the Intertoto Cup, we should have a really good chance to win there and go on to the UEFA Cup. Ever since I signed for Villa, that was the aim and the focus so it was really nice to finish having qualified for Europe. It feels good.'

He also says it isn't easy to break into the top four and that there is a chasing pack that Villa are within adding, 'If we can establish ourselves for a couple of seasons just outside those Champions League places then maybe we can push into the top four. I know the club wants to keep their best players and they will have to if they are to ever challenge the top teams. To achieve their ambition they have to keep the squad together and add a few more players.'

In another article, the 30-year-old central defender is looking to keep and frame his shirt from his last game for Villa v West Ham.

And on his gesture giving 3200 shirts to the away faithful he added, 'Giving the shirts away was my idea because it's unusual for a player to know so far in advance where you're going to be playing next season. A lot of people have asked me for a shirt since I signed so I thought it would be a good idea for the home game, but it would have a little bit too much to buy 42,000!'

He also added, 'It doesn't matter how much it cost - it was the end of season sale!'

LOL, classic!

And some more common sense from the Villa legend where he says it is the fans who pay the salaries of the players so it didn't matter to him how much it did cost, also that he always tried to repay the faith the Villa fans showed in him on the pitch. No arguments there, don't think the tough tackling Swede ever let us down.

'That's what fans appreciate more than anything. It was also a chance for me to say 'thank you' in a different way at my final game.'

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