 O'Leary took the reins at Aston Villa in May 2003 |
Aston Villa defenders Liam Ridgewell and Aaron Hughes say manager David O'Leary has the backing of the players. Several Villa fans held up banners calling for O'Leary to quit at Saturday's goalless draw with Fulham.
But Ridgewell said: "The players and the gaffer are sticking together. If we weren't behind him you might have seen a different result against Fulham."
Hughes added: "The players are behind the manager. We want to get 40 points and finish the season on a high."
Fans also chanted "O'Leary out" as Villa were mauled 4-1 by Everton a week before the game against Fulham.
However, Villa keeper Thomas Sorensen believes his side will bounce back under the former Leeds boss.
"Even Jose Mourinho gets criticised sometimes, when Chelsea win 10 games and then go and lose the next one," he said.
"It's just one bad week that we have had. People don't remember two or three games back. They remember only what happened last week and forget the rest.
"There was always going to be criticism directed at the players, the manager, the chairman, whoever.
"But the gaffer hasn't changed. He's still 100% committed. We'll bounce back as a team - with David O'Leary as a manager."
MMIX
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