"I'm sure he won't let the people who abuse him win. I think that inside he realises it can happen all over the world - not just in England. I have spoken with him and advised him that responding to what is said to him can suggest to these people that they have an influence over you. I believe he is intelligent enough to agree that he shouldn't react."

"I take a lot of abuse myself but I am used to it. Now I don't even really hear it. I am so focused on the game I can just switch off from everything else."

"Manu was wrong to react the way he did but we must not exaggerate the problem. It is not one that he suffers every Saturday. And at Villa they seem to have a particular problem with this because we are not the only club who has suffered there. They have admitted this."

And he has confirmed that Petit will probably be asked to play in central defence alongside Oleg Luzhny (see earlier item) in tomorrow's UEFA cup tie.

Meanwhile Villa boss John Gregory has also spoken, to reject suggestions that any members of his staff will be speaking in Petit's defence.

"Nobody from this club will be making any representations to the Football Association on behalf of Petit. As far as I am concerned all of this is just media hysteria, and we are trying to concentrate on playing football and not getting involved in this pathetic rubbish." (see Heroes & Villains unofficial site)