Aston Villa’s Brad Guzan: Being dropped for 2010 League Cup final was lowest point of my career

Brad Guzan, Aston Villa, EPL (Getty)

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By Sulaiman Folarin

Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan has revealed his disappointment at being dropped for the 2010 League Cup final.

The American had started every cup game in the lead up to the match against Manchester United, which Villa lost 2-1, but Brad Friedel was preferred in goal at Wembley.

Guzan admits that to miss out on the chance of playing at the stadium was one of his worst moments in football.

“He manager Martin O’Neill basically just called me into the coach’s office. I kind of had a feeling because of the way he went about things and he didn’t announce the starting 11 until an hour before kick-off. He called me into the office outside the locker room, sat me down and said he was going to go with experience that day. It was one of the toughest decisions for him and that was it really,” Guzan told Goal.com.

“They all came over knowing that obviously I had played all the matches leading up to it and to have the chance to play in a cup final at Wembley would have been fantastic. To have that moment taken away from me an hour before kick-off is definitely one of the lowest points in my career.”

Guzan, who has spent time out on loan at Hull City this season, is now setting his sights on proving himself at Villa, but admits he had not expected Friedel to maintain his place in goal for so long.

“When I signed with Aston Villa I knew they were going to bring in another goalkeeper. When Brad Friedel signed, I thought to myself this should be great. I spoke with Martin O’Neill when I first arrived and the plan was to have Brad play while I get used to English Football,” Guzan said. “Nobody could have predicted that Brad would be in such great form for so long.

“It’s just a matter of going out and trying to prove myself and pushing for that starting spot but that does not take away from any of the respect that I have for him and what he’s done on the international stage or here in England in the Premier League.”

Making an impact | Guzan was a regular starter for Hull

Guzan, who has been linked with a move to Roma, is keen to stay at Villa even if he is still not first choice next season, and says he would be willing to move out on loan again.

“For me if that’s the situation then and I’m going to be here as well, then a loan is definitely the plan of attack if I’m not going to be the No.1,” he added.

“At this point it’s about playing on regular basis. Being out on loan only keeps me sharp and ready to come back to Villa.”

While the goalkeeper admits he would happily leave Villa on loan, he is targeting the No.1 shirt for the USA.

“Everybody wants to be playing and everyone wants to be the No.1 – you want to be the guy – but at the same time I know that the guys in front of me are doing a great job,” he said.

“One hundred per cent for me I think to really push on at the national team level I need to be playing consistent football week-in, week-out at the club level.”

Fighting for his chance | Guzan wants to eventually be USA’s No. 1 keeper

Michael Bradley, Guzan’s international team-mate, spent the second half of the season on loan at Villa Park, but rarely featured as boss Gerard Houllier opted for proven Premier League players Stiliyan Petrov and Nigel Reo-Coker and January signing Jean Makoun.

Guzan added: “I’ve talked to him Bradley and it’s nothing that he already does not know. He knows when he gets his chance he has to be ready for it.

“Mike is a great professional. He is one of the first in training and the last to leave. He is always doing extra work to stay fit and to push himself to make sure that when he gets the chance he is ready to go.”

Guzan also dismissed suggestions that Houllier, who is currently recovering from a heart scare, is against Americans.

“I don’t think that’s the case at all. We hope the manager hopes a speedy recovery. I don’t think he hates Americans,” he added.

“At this club we have some very talented players. The depth of our midfield has international players at some level and it’s very competitive. When players come to England, the pace of the game is extremely fast and the tempo of the game is very high compared to some other countries.”

Follow Sulaiman Folarin on Twitter @sulaiman4real