Charlie Davies is understandably upset about being left off the United States World Cup roster, and he's looking for someone to blame. It probably isn't prudent to blame, at least publicly, coach Bob Bradley because Davies is still an important cog in the USMNT future and he doesn't want to make this situation worse for himself down the line.
Charlie Davies Fires Missive at Sochaux President After Being Left off World Cup Roster
Davies did a radio interview with RMC Sport in France – where his club team Sochaux plays – and explained that he was told by Bradley that Sochaux president Alexandre Lacombe sent a letter to the USMNT stating they would not release Davies. That letter, per Davies, was part of the reason why he was left off the preliminary roster for the World Cup. Transcription via Soccer By Ives:
⇥“I’m very hurt, I’m very sad, but I’m very angry because I feel FC Sochaux has denied me a chance at playing in the World Cup,” Davies said. “Of course I’m not at 100 percent now, but I feel that by the time World Cup camp starts next week I will be at a level where I can compete for one of the forward spots, and I feel by June 1st, June 12th by the first game against England I feel I will able to be at 100 percent and really contribute to the national team.“The headline of the RMC Sport story is “Je suis dévasté”, or “I am devastated.” And who can blame him if, in fact, his own club team’s president had a hand in keeping him out of the World Cup.
Davies didn’t say that he wanted to leave Sochaux and did not demand, or even suggest, that he’s looking to be transferred to another squad. He just isn’t exactly on speaking terms with the club’s president right now. When asked about that, Davies had no problem taking shots directly at Lacombe, stating, “[s]ince the accident I have not spoken with the president of FC Sochaux. He has not spoken with me. He has not given me any explanation. He hasn’t given me a reason why he has not said I can play.”
The interviewers asked Davies what his plan was for the World Cup. Will he travel with the USMNT and show his support? Right now, with the news he’s not on the team still new, Davies doesn’t think he’ll be in South Africa:
⇥“I don’t plan on going to South Africa because it would be very painful to be there knowing that my club never gave me a chance and that maybe I could be there. Maybe I couldn’t play, but maybe I could. I’ will never know. ⇥⇥“I’ll train even harder during the World Cup, it will give me more motivation.”⇥
This is obviously not the way anyone wanted this situation to end. Well, except maybe Lacombe.↵
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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