Stiliyan Petrov (dailymail)

EPL Football News – According to The Daily Mirror, Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov has insisted that his side must show no respect to ‘Big Four’ teams if they are to claim a place in next year’s Champions League.

The 30-year-old Bulgarian will lead Villa out against Everton tomorrow, hoping to build on their side’s current seventh-place standing in the Premier League.

And while Petrov takes aim at pinching a top-four finish, he admits to taking great inspiration in the manner that Everton managed to do so when they finished fourth in 2005.

“Everton have showed how teams need to do it when they broke into the top four,” Petrov said.

“They were really consistent, really strong and they didn’t pay that much respect to the top four.

“They played their own game, they fought for every point they could get.

“If us, Man City, Tottenham or whoever want to do that this year, we need to be more consistent, we need to be very strong.

“The way our game is set up, we have enough players to score goals.

“We also hope we will have a better chance to make the top four this season because the other big clubs have lost some players but we won’t count our chickens.

“The only way we can do it is by raising performances and getting consistency. If we can do that, we have got a good chance to be very close.”

Petrov is similarly upbeat about Villa’s prospects in the domestic cups, after his side despatched Sunderland on penalties in the League Cup.

The Bulgarian paid tribute to the loyal Villa Park faithful and expressed his desire to give them something to truly celebrate.

He added: “Silverware would be the best thing for the fans because they have been great to us, especially since the start of the season.

“They have been amazing. They expect a lot of things from us and it is up to us to deliver.

“It is going to be very difficult. A lot of teams are lining up to try and get silverware – but we are one of them and I am happy we are.”