PARIS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Monaco playmaker Marcelo Gallardo was unhappy with coach Didier Deschamps after being named on the substitutes' bench for a league match at En Avant Guingamp last week.
The Argentine expressed his annoyance and a new feud could
develop within the principality club following the disagreements
Deschamps had with Marco Simone and Christian Panucci, who have
both returned to Italian clubs.
'When I issued the starting list and Marcelo learned he was
on the bench he told me I mustn't rely on him,' Deschamps said.
'It's a behaviour I really don't understand. It's beyond my
understanding. I'm stunned.'
Gallardo, who was named the French league's best player in
2000 when Monaco won the title, is struggling for form and has
not scored this season.
'If Marcelo is at his best he's an indisputable first-choice
player,' Deschamps said. 'But as it's not the case, I'm looking
for a more balanced line-up.
'This was the reason why I decided to leave him aside at En
Avant Guingamp. It was merely a choice for one match.'
Monaco have failed to live up to expectations since
Deschamps took over as coach. The 2-1 defeat by Guingamp was
their fifth of the season, leaving them 12th in the table, 12
points behind leaders RC Lens.
'We'll see how things turn out,' Deschamps said. 'Nothing's
set yet. I'm not here to fire people. But if Marcelo refuses to
put the team first he will be out of the squad.'
- NEWS