pasports_news

Barry: I wish I'd won at Villa

Thu 04 Jun, 09:28 AM


Gareth Barry is convinced he can finally win major honours after making the £12 million switch from Aston Villa to Manchester City.

Barry admits his "one huge regret" about his 12 years at Villa was failing to land any silverware with a 2000 FA Cup final appearance the nearest he came to trophy glory.

He said: "My one huge regret is that during my time at Aston Villa we have not brought the supporters the success they deserve. I obviously have to take my share of responsibility that we have not been good enough to win trophies."

But the England midfielder believes he can achieve those goals at Eastlands even though he has sacrificed his ambition to play Champions League football for at least one more season.

"A lot of people will question my decision to join Manchester City," he said. "But they were the club prepared to meet the valuation which, for a 28-year-old with a year left on his contract, I think shows how much they wanted me.

"Once I had spoke to Mark Hughes, there was nowhere else I wanted to go. I feel I am joining a club that will seriously challenge to win major honours.

"People might doubt that, but I am convinced with the plans the club has short term and long term, and the backing the manager will receive from the owners, that we will be a major force."

Barry admits the fear of going stale and losing the edge to his game prompted him to move despite being optimistic about the future for Villa.

He said: "I feel the club is in the best position it has been in during my time at Villa. I think we have a group of very good young players, a fantastic chairman who is here for the good of the club, and one of the best managers in the game.

"The manager and the whole club have bent over backwards to try and persuade me to stay and made me a fantastic offer which I am extremely grateful for. But, after changing my mind lots of times, I came to the decision that the time was right for me and for the club to part company."

 

Comment 1 - 7 of 7

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. Man C can buy any players with the money they have, but­ they cannot buy HONOURS!!!

    From Sick of it all, on Fri 5 Jun 5:34AM

  2. Gareth Barry had more chance of winning at Aston Villa­ than he ever will have at Manchester City. At least he­ didn't join Liverpool, Alonso's 10x better.

    From clivewilliamson, on Thu 4 Jun 9:19PM

  3. If Man C continue to spend the cash and have the bottle­ to change the Manager, maybe in two or three years they­ could have a decent side - just in time for GB's­ retirement! On the other hand, it could be a huge cash­ pot with no substance - Leeds under David O'Leary;­ Chelsea under Ranieri?
    Many thanks to GB for the­ service to Villa, but if the real reason was trophies­ and European football in the next two years, Man City­ aint the place to go - now if it's cash and­ boosting the pension, now that's a different matter­ - just be honest!
    As a Villa fan, £12M for a player who­ will be 29 at the start of next season and out of­ contract in 12 months, not too bad - a £100K a week for­ 5 years is a good little nest egg for GB that Villa­ were right not to fund. Now MON, get spending and give­ us a decent size squad with some depth!

    From nrhands, on Thu 4 Jun 2:27PM

  4. Gareth Barry is convinced he can finally win major­ honours after making the £12 million switch from Aston­ Villa to Manchester City.

    Frankly, I would have­ thought he was far too old to be believing in fairy­ tales!!

    From elmo, on Thu 4 Jun 2:08PM

  5. GBarry - slightly overrated anyway.

    £12m - Bargain­ for Villa

    MAN C - More money than anything else­ (including sense)

    MHughes - Disappointing to see a man­ with such dignity lowered to money bully­ managering.

    Bottom Line - Money can't buy you­ success, but it can certainly help.

    From n.d.edmonds, on Thu 4 Jun 10:55AM

  6. Thanks gareth for your loyalty, but is highly­ impossible that Man C become a major force... unless­ the ONLY issue is money... than that's a different­ storey altogather... oh, by the way, Leeds, Coventry,­ Nottingham Forest, West Brom, Newcastle, Derby, Preston­ North End, Transmere, Oldham and MANY other clubs too­ can be a major force - IF they owned the the oilfields­ in the Arab region... Villa too could be a Major force,­ if it had a few oil fields... MAYBE Brighton too can be­ a Major force with some oilfields...

    From Sick of it all, on Thu 4 Jun 10:32AM

  7. Enjoy your retirement Gareth and thanks for the 12­ years at Villa! Eastlands - it even sounds like a­ nursing home for players past their best making their­ final few years as comfortable as possible. They also­ have a very impressive mental facility - dealing with­ players that just won't fit in anywhere else.

    From tuscanvillan, on Thu 4 Jun 9:53AM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account