Houllier Setting His Sights High

New Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier has called for his side to step up and win trophies as well as break into the Premier League top four.

The 63-year-old Frenchman is set to take charge of his first game as Villa manager in the Carling Cup clash with Blackburn and he is already making big plans for his return to English football as a manager. The Carling Cup betting suggests they have every chance of lifting that trophy.

Houllier has a hard act to follow as his predecessor Martin O'Neill guided Villa to Premier League top six finishes and European qualification for two seasons in succession.

He has not managed in the Premier League for many years and he has already set his mindset on making Villa a "winning club" – and he has been aided by the work that caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald already this season.

The popular Irishman has given Villa solid grounding to continue their campaign on and Houllier now wants trophies to arrive at Villa Park, something he claims would be "fantastic for the club".

"Maybe what the club needs is more ambition and to show its fighting teeth. Sometimes when you are a good club, everything is fine and the comfort is there," the veteran manager said.

"Maybe what we need is to get out of this comfort zone and get results a bit more."

The Premier League betting suggests they are in for a tough time, but they clearly have the stomach for a fight.

One man looking to impress Houllier is Steven Ireland, who is preparing for life under a second manager at Villa despite the fact he has been there less than a month.

He arrived as part of the deal which took James Milner to Manchester City and he come out and said that all the players at Villa Park are "eager to improve" and fight for the new man to get into the Premier League top four.