Nigel Reo-Coker was delighted to captain Aston Villa in yesterday's Intertoto Cup victory over Odense.

The midfielder told Villa's website: "It was fantastic to lead the team out. It is hard to put into words. It's something I'd like to reflect on when my career is over.

"To be able to say 'I captained Aston Villa - one of only four English clubs to lift the European Cup' is absolutely fantastic. It is a real honour to do that for a fantastic club.

"We are a new generation now and we want to be successful in Europe too.

"We are confident we can go a long way in the UEFA Cup. You only have to look at the way we managed to get through the Intertoto Cup.

"People shouldn't be fooled into thinking that these are mickey-mouse teams. It was tough opposition, hard to play against and there were few chances.

"As the manager said 'if we don't do well in Europe, what we did last season won't count for anything.'"