Almost a week after his Villa farewell Olof Mellberg remains on a high after Martin O'Neill's men secured a top-six finish.

Now the Swede hopes qualifying for next term's Intertoto Cup is just the start as O'Neill and Randy Lerner bid to put pressure on the big-four.

Mellberg will be in Champions League action with new club Juventus next season and is delighted his Villa mates will also be in European action.

He said: "I have mixed feelings. It was really nice to be able to finish off this way - we were looking to qualify for Europe all season and we managed to do it.

"Even though it's the Intertoto Cup, we should have a really good chance to win there and go on to the UEFA Cup.

"Ever since I signed for Villa, that was the aim and the focus so it was really nice to finish having qualified for Europe. It feels good."

Mellberg added: "It will be difficult to break into the big four. At the moment Villa are trying to establish themselves just behind the big four," he said.

"That is not easy because a lot of sides are in the chasing pack and are competing for those positions.

"If we can establish ourselves for a couple of seasons just outside those Champions League places then maybe we can push into the top four.

"I know the club wants to keep their best players and they will have to if they are to ever challenge the top teams. To achieve their ambition they have to keep the squad together and add a few more players."