Sevilla boss denies Kanouté bust-up
Saturday 04 February 2012
Sevilla boss Marcelino García Toral has reacted to allegations he was involved in a training ground bust-up with striker Freddie Kanouté this week by saying he is ‘hurt’ by the stories. Media reports suggested Marcelino came face-to-face with Kanouté after they had had an argument during training, which resulted in the Mali international refusing to continue with the session.
Marcelino has been under pressure lately after seeing his team slip to 11th in La Liga with no wins in the last six games, the last victory coming in the first week of December when Getafe were beaten 3-0 at the Sánchez Pizjuán. However, the 46-year-old said he categorically denied falling out with Kanouté and wished to put the matter straight.
“I accept and abide by the criticism of the team’s performances, but I cannot understand how they can say I fought with Freddie Kanouté because it is not the truth,” he told a Press conference. “ I feel hurt because that is not what happened. My relationship with him is good and although results have been poor nobody can accuse me of falling out with Freddy.”
On Sunday’s game with Villarreal, Marcelino said his team will go out to win the game from the start, whilst also insisting the Sevilla board had not given him an ultimatum despite Los Nervionenses having dropped alarmingly out of the European places.
“I have no doubt my team will go all out from the first whistle and try to put an end to this bad run,” said the Asturian. “But we need to have more consistency. I have had no pressure from the board and I would like to thank them because, despite some adverse results, they have kept faith with me. I don’t know what will happen after this game because right now the only thing I am thinking about is Villarreal,” he added.
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