Monday, September 17, 2012

Brad Friedel proves that America is better than France



"Hey! Where do you think you're going?"


Via Press Association-Brad Friedel insists he has no problem with Hugo Lloris' arrival at Tottenham and claims the rivalry between the two goalkeepers is a "friendly" and "healthy" one.

Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas said he had completed one of the biggest coups of the summer when he swooped to sign Lloris from Lyon for an initial 8 million pounds ($12.9 million) fee on transfer deadline day.

The France captain was expected to go straight into the starting lineup, but Villas-Boas retained Friedel in goal for Sunday's win over Reading after the American put in an outstanding display in the previous fixture against Norwich.

Villa-Boas' public vow to keep Friedel as his No. 1 goalkeeper did not go down well with the Frenchman, or his national manager Didier Deschamps, but the Portuguese insists the 25-year-old must earn his right to win the No. 1 jersey.

Friedel, who played his 308th consecutive Barclays Premier League game yesterday, has no qualms about the competition between himself, Lloris, and Spurs' other two goalkeepers Heurelho Gomes and Carlo Cudicini.

"Hugo has come in and is a really nice person," Friedel told talkSPORT.

"He's a super goalkeeper but we have two other really good goalkeepers in Heurelho Gomes and Carlo Cudicini.

"We have friendly, and healthy, competition for places. Hopefully we will have long runs in all the cup competitions and there's going to be plenty of matches to share around."

Lloris was among the substitutes Sunday, but he may start Thursday's Europa League clash against Lazio at White Hart Lane.

The Frenchman was content to sit out the 3-1 win over Reading, which came courtesy of two goals from Jermain Defoe and another from Gareth Bale, but does expect to be playing soon.

"I am in an adaptation period, I've had very few training sessions, and there are players that I didn't know. But I am expecting time on the pitch," Lloris told L'Equ



Photograph: Paul Childs/Action Images

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