• Aston Villa defender says players need medals to be fulfilled
• Carling Cup semi-final against Blackburn ‘biggest of career’
Richard Dunne believes winning the Carling Cup with Aston Villa this year would help to compensate for the Republic of Ireland’s controversial World Cup play-off defeat against France and also provide him with a sense of fulfilment in a career that has so far delivered riches but no silverware.
The central defender has made close to 450 appearances for Manchester City, Everton and now Villa, but tonight will be the first time he has played in a semi-final, prompting him to describe the first leg against Blackburn Rovers as “the biggest club game of my career”. Dunne believes that the tie offers an opportunity to move a step closer to winning the trophy that he claims would bring him greater long-term satisfaction than any financial rewards.
“Every footballer in the Premier League will more or less finish his career having enough money and be financially happy and pleased but whether they’re fulfilled career-wise is different,” said Dunne, who was an apprentice at Goodison Park when Everton beat Manchester United in the 1995 FA Cup final. “For players to feel fulfilled, you have to have actual silverware to look back on. That’s where your memories are. You keep your medals for ever.”
Dunne admitted that success with Villa this season would also help to ease the pain of that raucous night in Paris in November when France triumphed after Thierry Henry’s handball went unpunished. “If I can finish the season and we’ve done well in the league and manage to win a trophy, I think I could say it’s been successful. The World Cup will be one disappointment in it but anyone who finishes this season with a trophy has to be happy.”
The 30-year-old has, however, urged his team-mates “not to get sidetracked by looking too far ahead”. He claimed that he has not given a second’s thought to the prospect of facing his former club, City, in the final. “My focus is on Aston Villa and beating whoever we come up against. Whether that’s Manchester City or Manchester United, it’s not important.”
Dunne sat out the FA Cup victory over Blackburn on Saturday, when Martin O’Neill rested several first-team players, but he will return to what the manager hopes will be a full-strength Villa side tonight. O’Neill’s only concern surrounds the availability of James Milner, who is suffering from a bruised foot.
Aston VillaCarling CupBlackburn RoversStuart Jamesguardian.co.uk
