Int Football - Gallas slams France team-mate

Eurosport - Fri, 21 Nov 18:40:00 2008

William Gallas appears to be heading for a showdown with his France team-mates as well as seeing his Arsenal captaincy put under threat.

William Gallas - 0

Gallas, 31, has revealed rifts in the Arsenal dressing room, a blazing row during the interval of the 4-4 draw with rivals Tottenham and a problem with an unnamed team-mate unsettling the squad.

Now in his autobiography, Gallas reports unrest in the France camp during their disastrous Euro 2008 finals, singling out a player who he felt was disrespecting older members of the squad. It led to a training-ground confrontation between the pair.

Gallas wrote: "I was also 20 years old once. I would never have allowed myself to speak in this tone to a footballer who was older than me.

"The youngsters from the Euros seem cheeky, very sure of themselves. They think they know it all, but they don't know anything.

"Faced with his contempt, I raised my voice. The young player said: 'Lower your voice, speak less loudly'.

"I replied: 'How are you speaking to me? Who do you think you are? You are only 20 years old. I am not your friend.

"He said: 'Me neither, I am not your friend'."

Gallas stopped short of identifying the player, but having given away his age as 20 at the Euro 2008 finals the subject of his rant can only have been either Arsenal team-mate Samir Nasri or Karim Benzema of Lyon.

Gallas will be in the limelight when Arsenal travel to Manchester City this weekend.

Arsenal fans' forums are now polling who will succeed the France centre-back, rather than if boss Arsene Wenger should keep giving him the armband.

Wenger himself has an alternative on the role of the skipper, insisting the game is too fast for one person to take sole responsibility on the field.

"It's so quick everywhere, there is less time for one person to lead the team," said Wenger. "You need more shared leadership on the pitch.

"You still need people talking in the dressing room but on the pitch it has become too quick for just one guy. Now the goalkeeper catches the ball and straight away the ball is in the other half."

Before retaining his captain, Wenger reviewed Gallas' role as skipper at the end of last season following the centre-back's infamous tantrum at Birmingham where he bizarrely was at the other end of the pitch in protest when James McFadden scored a last-gasp penalty.

Drawing at St Andrews put a huge dent in Arsenal's title hopes, and this season they have already lost four Barclays Premier League games.

Gallas found himself in the headlines again when he was pictured with a cigarette on a night out, although he has also had his leadership skills praised by pundits during the recent win over Manchester United.

Wenger has limited options to replace Gallas at City this weekend, with Cesc Fabregas, the supporters' favourite for the role, suspended.

Kolo Toure is a doubt with a calf problem, and is considered a quieter member of Wenger's squad.

Former England boss Graham Taylor feels Wenger would be brave enough to make a change if he feels it is necessary.

"Arsene Wenger, the manager that he is, would know the kind of person he wants as a captain, and if it isn't working for him, make those changes," Taylor told BBC Radio Five Live.

"He knows his players better than any of us, he knows what he's looking for as a leader, as a captain. If he feels that Gallas isn't doing that then I think he's wrong if he continues with him.

"I would have thought by now a manager of Arsene Wenger's calibre knows what makes a good captain, and I'm somewhat surprised that he still has stuck with Gallas even after that Birmingham situation."

Former Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn said he was disappointed with Gallas' outburst and said the matter should have been dealt with internally.

He told Sky Sports News: "I'm very disappointed with Gallas' comments.

"We all know arguments happen at half-time and full-time in any game, not just at Arsenal, and they're dealt with inside the club.

"It certainly doesn't need the captain to come out and tell the world players have fallen out - that can be good, it shows they care and are not prepared to accept defeat.

"He actually said one team-mate is being disruptive, which puts the suspicion of blame on four or five players. He hasn't come out and named the player."

Gallas has been quoted in the Evening Standard as being open to an eventual return to France for the final stages of his career, although there has been no suggestion of that being imminent.

Gallas said: "It's true that I'd like to return to France for one or perhaps two seasons to finish my career.

"But if I go it won't be to just anywhere. I'd go to a big club or nowhere at all. The choices look simple to me - it would be Marseille, Lyon, Paris Saint-Germain or, let's not forget, Bordeaux.

"PSG are a massive club and known everywhere. I've stayed in contact with Claude Makelele and he's told me that he's pretty happy to be in Paris. He feels he's getting the respect he deserves from everyone."

Sporting Life / Eurosport

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  1. not slag off john terry (the thug ) your way off mark­ pal the real problem withengland is the di**in charge­ mR fabio (is my wig on straight) cappello Rio is the­ true successor to the Bobby Moore Armband not some­ jumped up snotty faced Whinger like terry

    From MARC G, on Sat 22 Nov 9:49AM

  2. i trust you english people to speak this way, am sure­ if gallas was english half the rubbish you guys talk­ about you won't say them am yet to hear any one of­ you say anything about John terry in the goal he gave­ away to germany. how quick you guys are to forget about­ how gallas has saved us from dropping points with his­ laast mins goals or even only goals, it's a pity­ cause you don't have a defense and your coach is­ not ready to buy any and now you will loose gallas in­ the next transfer window, i will stick my life to this­ arsenal is not going to the champions league next­ season.

    From Solomon, on Sat 22 Nov 8:15AM

  3. for Gallas to make such comments about the unknown­ player,he must have despise him to a point he­ couldn't take anymore.those who been leaders b4­ will better understand what i say

    From Nkwa, on Sat 22 Nov 5:13AM

  4. fOOTBALL IS JUST LIKE ANY OTHER JOB.ACCOUNTANTS MAKE­ MISTAKE JUST LIKE DIRECTORS ETC.
    LIFE HAS TO GO ON­ UNLESS ALL THE BACK MANAGERS ARE FIRED FOR THE STATE OF­ WORLD ECONOMY.GALAS HAS MADE A MISTAKE BUT THIS SHOULD­ NOT OVERSHADOW HIS GOOD WORKS.ARSENAL FANS DO NOT BE­ CHEATED BY THE OPPOSITION'S COMMENT,THEY ARE­ PUTTING SALT ON OUR INJURY.LET US TALK TO GALAS AND­ PROTECT OUR ARSENAL.THIS WILL PASS WE SHALL BE BACK­ WHERE WE BELONG I MEAN WHERE WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN.KEEP­ ON WENGER,GALAS AND ARSENAL.WE ARE WITH YOU. YOU MADE­ US HAPPY WE ARE EVEN NOT USED TO LOOSING BUT ITS JUST A­ PASSING MOMENT WE SHALL PULL THROUGH.GOD BLESS ARSENAL.

    From mikemhomie, on Fri 21 Nov 11:42PM

  5. fOOTBALL IS JUST LIKE ANY OTHER JOB.ACCOUNTANTS MAKE­ MISTAKE JUST LIKE DIRECTORS ETC.
    LIFE HAS TO GO ON­ UNLESS ALL THE BACK MANAGERS ARE FIRED FOR THE STATE OF­ WORLD ECONOMY.GALAS HAS MADE A MISTAKE BUT THIS SHOULD­ NOT OVERSHADOW HIS GOOD WORKS.ARSENAL FANS DO NOT BE­ CHEATED BY THE OPPOSITION'S COMMENT,THEY ARE­ PUTTING SALT ON OUR INJURY.LET US TALK TO GALAS AND­ PROTECT OUR ARSENAL.THIS WILL PASS WE SHALL BE BACK­ WHERE WE BELONG I MEAN WHERE WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN.KEEP­ ON WENGER,GALAS AND ARSENAL.WE ARE WITH YOU. YOU MADE­ US HAPPY WE ARE EVEN NOT USED TO LOOSING BUT ITS JUST A­ PASSING MOMENT WE SHALL PULL THROUGH.GOD BLESS ARSENAL.

    From mikemhomie, on Fri 21 Nov 11:38PM

  6. I think players should'nt write autobiographys­ until their career is over! This highlights the point­ that as a team player and captain this book has caused­ problems within the team! Gallas was a good defender as­ to was silvestre but if the top sides are happy to sell­ them to a competitor this should surely ring alarm­ bells. I believe the young players will be key to our­ success so start playing wiltshire and ramsey! Although­ the lack of a holding midfielder is part of the reason­ we are leaking goals. Come on Arsenal get a grip and­ start consentrating on the game!

    From Biscuit, on Fri 21 Nov 10:07PM

  7. PEOPLE SEEMS TO FORGET SO QUICKLY THAT W.GALLAS WAS SO­ RUDE TO KEVIN KING IN HIS LAST GAME AT EMIRATES.DOES HE­ EXPECT YOUNG PLAYERS TO RESPECT HIM TOO?
    HIS BAD­ INFLUENCE HAS DEMORALISED ARSENAL PLAYERS AND HAS LOST­ EVERY RESPECT AS A CAPTAIN.
    GOOD RIDDANCE TO BAD­ RUBBISH!!!

    From Olugbayi, on Fri 21 Nov 7:55PM

  8. It's ironic Gallas speaks about the respect­ Makelele "deserves from everyone" when­ it's pretty clear Gallas doesn't have a good­ idea of how to give it.

    From Des, on Fri 21 Nov 7:46PM

  9. lets have captain patrick back,he commands respect,in­ the way that he plays.oh for the glory days of old,with­ pat and keano out there like true generals taking no­ prisoners! arsene sort it !!!!!!!

    From chrissie, on Fri 21 Nov 6:51PM

  10. Gashkini, if you knew anything about Samir Nasri you­ would know it was NOT him. From all I've read he is­ a quiet humble boy with respect for his elders. He even­ lived with his parents until coming to Arsenal. The­ more likely candidate is Benzema. He thinks he's­ pretty hot

    From tom h, on Fri 21 Nov 6:27PM

  11. I am sorry but when mr Gallas says that he is older and­ therefore should be respected, then he should act older­ too. Unless he wants to to alienate all of his teamates­ like someone already stated, and put a dirty spot on­ his career as in tems of behavior then he should be­ quiet.

    And Gallas best defender in the world? Whoever­ said needs to put his/hers foot outside their door. I­ can name 5 defender off of the top of my head that are­ better then them.
    Like Fabio Cannavaro, John Terry, Rio­ Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, and Carles Puyol.

    From a.guerrazzi, on Fri 21 Nov 6:14PM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    IT IS OBVIOUS THAT NASRI IS THE PROBLEM OF ARSENAL.HE­ INSULTED GALLAS IN EURO AND HAS COME TO ARSENAL TO­ FINISH THE JOB OF DISREPECTING OLDER PLAYERS THAT HAS­ THE RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP THE TEAM INTACT.MIND YOU THE­ CODE OF CONDUCT OR ROD OF DISCIPLINE USED FOR FIRST­ CHILD IS ALWAYS IN THE CORNER AND HANDY FOR THE SECOND­ CHILD TOO.
    HE IS 20 NOW BUT NEXT YEAR HIS BAD MANNERS­ WILL BRING HIM DISGRACE BECAUSE ARSENL IS TOO NOBLE AND­ CULTURED TO KEEP PLAYERS LIKE HIM FOR 3 SEASONS.
    ON­ GALLAS FORM,A CAPTAIN SHOULD NOT THE BEST PLAYER BUT­ CERTAINLY THE ONE THAT SPEAK THE MIND OF THE COACH EVEN­ WHILE PLAYING.AT 31, GALLAS HAS A LOT TO IMPACT TO ­ WILLING KIDS.

    From gaskin, on Fri 21 Nov 5:40PM

  13. I say well done to Willam Gallas. It's a pity that­ people seem to want to suppress what he says. I could­ imagine van Persie being the one. Looks a bit sly to me­ that one.

    From quatt47, on Fri 21 Nov 5:37PM

  14. What the hell is wrong with Gallas?!Is he intent on­ alienating as many of his team mates as possible?!I­ have to say that if i was on the same team as Gallas(in­ my dreams) i wouldn't have much respect for him!

    From MichealS, on Fri 21 Nov 5:25PM

  15. chelsea are good! liver are good! manutd are good! BUT­ ARSENAL ARE LEGENDS, and THE BEST!!!!!

    From lovenland, on Fri 21 Nov 5:22PM

  16. i think simon must be an alias for william gallas :)­ best centre back to ever play the game?? better than­ terry?? he is having a laugh. id sooner have o shea in­ my team

    From Podolski, on Fri 21 Nov 5:18PM

  17. gallas out an bring in the kids.

    From Alain, on Fri 21 Nov 5:15PM

  18. I am a die hard arsenal fan, and i think it's­ utterly ridiculous to say that Gallas is the best­ defender in the world, simon, have you seen our defense­ recently!!?? 4 goals against spurs, 2 against stoke, if­ Gallas is so good then why do we keep losing to the­ poorest teams in the league (spurs included in that (a­ draw is as bad as a loss)).
    Get rid of Gallas as­ captain and hopefully either the world class centre­ back or holding midfielder that wenger buys in january­ can be captain!!

    From footiematt, on Fri 21 Nov 5:10PM

  19. I defended him when he revealed problems with Arsenal,­ but if he is having problems abroad, then maybe he­ really does deserve to lose his captaincy.

    From a.guerrazzi, on Fri 21 Nov 4:58PM

  20. aww such a shame the players disrespect him but that­ can only be good for the fall of arsenal :)

    From , on Fri 21 Nov 4:49PM
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