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Friedel explains Landon's 'easy road'

American Brad Friedel has had to explain a comment made in a BBC interview that referred to Landon Donovan's career choice of "the easy road", staying home with the MLS, when he compared it with Clint Dempsey's development in the Premier League.

Paying tribute Clint Dempsey, after the Fulham striker broke Brian McBride's record for most career goals in the English Premier League by a US player, four of which were for Everton, Friedel drew an unflattering comparison to Donovan's decision to make his name in Major League Soccer instead of Europe.

?You get a player like a Landon Donovan, who in my opinion chose to take the easy road and stay in the States. It's much harder to ply your trade over here,? Friedel said. ?[The Premier League] is the best league in the world to play in, and this is where [Dempsey] got better, in my opinion. This is where he became one of the best the United States ever produced.

?The profiling in the States sometimes is a lot more to do with sponsorships than what you actually do on the field," added the Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper, who spent two seasons with MLS side Columbus Crew before catching on in England. "And listen, I'm not trying to take anything away from Landon because Landon has been absolutely magnificent for the US as well. I'm just saying he gets a lot more notoriety because it's sponsorship-driven over there.?

Friedel soon clarified his comments, releasing a statement to the press:

?I did not mean to disparage or demean Landon Donovan or his accomplishments in any way, shape or form,? Friedel said. ?I was merely paying respects to Clint Dempsey for his fantastic career. I apologize if my remarks offended anyone, especially Landon. It was not my motive. I would never bash a fellow American player.?

?In America, heroes have to be created, and if heroes have to be created, it's best that they're created on home soil. And the terminology maybe was the wrong choice of words — I used ?easy road,'? said Freidel. ?I was talking more about the off-field scenarios, and I was basically saying what I said as a tribute to Clint.

?I don't have one problem with Landon. Where he plays is entirely up to him,? he added. ?I was really surprised at how sensitive the media took it.?

Quotes or other material sourced from National Soccer Wire

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