Ace Ginola sets up Villa

Ray Matts|Daily Mail13 April 2012
Aston Villa 4 Basle 1
Agg: 5-2

Forget any debate about David Ginola's physique. At his best, he's the perfect footballing specimen.

The Frenchman turned on a virtuoso performance to help Aston Villa win their InterToto Cup Final to earn a place in the UEFA Cup.

He masterminded this second leg triumph, laying on two goals and bringing the crowd to their feet with an exquisite 83rd-minute strike.

Ginola also helped Juan Pablo Angel to show his potential. The Colombian, who has struggled for goals since his £9million signing last season, scored twice as Villa knocked the heart out of Basle, who had taken a 30th-minute lead through Australian Scott Chipperfield.

Ginola was involved in Darius Vassell's equaliser just before half-time and supplied the 55th-minute left-wing cross from which Angel put Villa in front.

Angel scored again with a deflected shot in the 77th minute and six minutes later Ginola raced down the left before cutting inside to drill into the corner of the net.

Basle coach Christian Gross, Ginola's manager at Tottenham, was not surprised by his display. He said: 'David is one of the best players I have ever coached. There was very little more he could have done. It was a complete allround performance.'

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