'I'll forgive booze duo'

Dunne and Collins are understood to have been fined two weeks' wages - around £100,000 each - by Villa after being involved in a row with coaching staff during a team bonding session last week.

Yet Houllier said: "Richard Dunne and James Collins have been disciplined and this is all I will be saying on the matter.

"As far as we are concerned, this is the end of the matter.

"The club have dealt with the incident strongly and quickly, but now we move onto the main target which is the Wolverhampton game.

"It was difficult for me to be involved in the investigation and give any kind of punishment.

"I did not want to be involved because I think it was better not to be pre-judging. I prefer to have neutral people...

"I feel sorry for what happened for the club and the fans.

"Players are young and sometimes they regret their mistakes and sometimes they don't - I still view 31 as young."

Houllier also defended the idea to take the trip to the spa hotel in the first place.

"I don't regret what we set-up - even the next day the players enjoyed the therapy and spa sessions. I have a long capacity of forgiveness, which is very useful in football.

"I trust players and I trust people. I can be tough but I am a nice man. I am not bullying or shouting -- sometimes I try to understand but trust is always two-way."