Young and Downing have been linked with moves to Manchester United and Tottenham respectively during the past week but Houllier will only offload players he no loner wants. When asked if Downing and Young would be sold, Houllier said: "No. No way. Categorically no. "The chairman reassured me [there will be money to spend] although I've got everyone coming back. "But I can tell you that at some stage, if we need some players in, we will take them." Two players that have been expected to move on are Ireland and Dunne, but Houllier intimated even they could soon find themselves back in the team. He said: "At some stage, there will be [a way back for them], sooner rather than later. "They are out of the team only on footballing reasons. They weren't performing at times." Houllier added: "In life when you have to face, adversity you fight. This is what you have to do. "I think some players are affected mentally by what is happening here. "They are man enough now to be counted and say 'we can cope' but it is a team thing. "The confidence will come sometimes with an unexpected result like Wolves when they won at Liverpool. That gave a huge boost to everyone there. "Sometimes it can come from the fact that in the game the performance is better and you can keep a clean sheet even if you don't get a win. "The confidence comes when you get together, you know you fight together, and you get a better level of your football. "Maybe a minor result becomes more important. That is how you build your confidence." Houllier insists he is relishing the challenges lying ahead of him to re-establish Villa and transform their current fortunes. He said: "I knew there would be pressure and there is more pressure and the feeling is not the same when you don't win games, but I knew that. "I didn't come just for the fun. I just also came for what is sometimes difficult. "The road to success is never a simple one. It is never smooth and easy. "Sometimes you get bumps and it is rocky at the moment for many reasons but we will get through it."
