Former Aston Villa goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen has spoken to the Danish media about problems with Martin O’Neill at Aston Villa.
The Dane spent five seasons at Villa Park, after David O’Leary brought him to the club.
Speaking to Ekstra Bladet, Sorensen was asked about the upcoming World Cup playoff between Denmark and the Republic of Ireland, and his dealings with O’Neill: “He told me directly that if I thought I was a good football player, I would have to look at myself in the mirror. What did I do to deserve it? It seemed like a punishment for something.
“The worst was the way it happened. I was punished like a criminal, even though I didn’t feel I had done anything… From playing all matches the season before to suddenly knowing you are almost completely useless.”
Sorensen signed for Aston Villa from Sunderland in 2003, and would go on to make nearly 150 Premier League appearances for the club. However, his fortunes seemed to change when O’Neill was brought in to replace O’Leary in 2006.
Under the Irish coach the former Denmark international was initially the first choice Aston Villa goalkeeper, ahead of Stefan Postma and Stuart Taylor.
That would fit in with how the Dane says things went for him under O’Neill, and the journey from being an important squad member at Aston Villa to being made to feel he wasn’t welcome under the manager.
More frustratingly for Sorensen, he says O’Neill blocked a Villa exit, despite clearly not valuing him.
The 41 year old left Aston Villa in 2008 on a free transfer, after making no appearances in his final season at the club.
ND
