by Chinners » Thu Jan 07, 2010 3:44 pm
Aston Villa defender Richard Dunne insists he would have no qualms about facing his former club Manchester City in the Carling Cup final. (Sky Sports understands ...)
Dunne left Eastlands in the summer following the big money arrivals of Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott and the two sides could meet in the final should they succeed in their respective semi clashes. Villa take on Blackburn next Thursday after their first-leg tie at Ewood Park was postponed due to freezing weather, leaving Martin O'Neill's side with a fixture list that will see six games played in 17 days. City's encounter with bitter rivals Manchester United was also called off, yet Dunne insists he has not thought about the possibility of meeting the club he spent nine years with. The Irishman insists he is focused on helping his side claim the trophy they last lifted 13 years ago, as well as securing the first silverware of his career.
Trophy
He said: "I really enjoyed my time at City. It was nine years of my career so it doesn't just go away.
"But the aim is to win a trophy for Aston Villa. I didn't manage to do it when I was at City.
"The opportunity is here, and if it is Manchester City in the final, then we have to do our best to overcome them. But I haven't thought about the prospect of playing them.
"The aim is to get to the final and, come the end of February, to be picking up the trophy. That is the main thing for me, whoever we play."
Big club
Dunne's time in Manchester was cut short by pre-season spending that saw over £100million splashed on new recruits, leaving the 30-year-old surplus to requirements.
His new Villa team-mates have kept up the pace with their rivals since his move though, only trailing them in the Premier League table on goals scored, although City have a game in hand.
Roberto Mancini has since taken charge of the club following the sacking of Mark Hughes, and Dunne believes the Italian will spend big as he attempts to build a legacy at the club.
"When I was there, there was not just one player but four or five linked to the club every day," Dunne added. "But that is the way Manchester City is.
"They are a big club with a lot of money to spend and obviously the owner's dream is to win the Premier League so a lot of players want to go there."
