“I don’t particularly like Birmingham City after the four games we have played against them in the Premiership.
I can’t say the atmosphere between us has been brilliant.
Not that we have to like each other.”
Olof Mellberg [Quote: 2004]
“I was one of the most hated men in one half of Birmingham and one of the most loved in the other.
If I walked into the right place on a night out in the city, I never had to buy a drink , but if I walked in and the place was full of Villa fans, it went so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
For pure hatred, I don’t think I ever experienced a season like 2002-3.
Both games were madness, with people on the pitch and fights breaking out all over the place.”
Robbie Savage on “that” fiery derby in 2003 [Quote: 2015]
“I can’t see why we shouldn’t beat them
We know you can’t play ‘nice’ football against Birmingham
As a player you have to give your all in a game, and then you can be a nice guy afterwards.”
Martin Laursen [Quote: 2005]
“Delighted for Gary Rowett. Finally gets to manage in the dugout at a club he’s loved since a young boy. Fairytale stuff.”
Stan Collymore ahead of Villa facing Blues in the League Cup in 2015
[Quote: 2015]
On Carsen Yeungs attempts to buy Aston Villa from him…
“I just wasn’t going to hand the club over to anyone borrowing money
Mr Yu [Yeung’s Assistant] spent a day with us at Aston Villa but they were borrowing money, so I said no.
Yet Mr Yu was the Aston Villa shop’s best customer.
He had bags and bags of shirts and socks to take back to his boss.”
[Quote: 2012]
Final word should, of course, go to Olof Mellberg…
“I just feel, I’ve got the feeling, that I just don’t like them.
That’s just the feeling I get from the whole club and the fans.
My feelings from the games.
It is the biggest derby I have played and derbies are probably the biggest games overall in club football so Birmingham City is not an option for me, no.”
[Quote: 2004]
Ah yes Olof Melberg the king of derbies.