Gallas doesn’t own up to own-goal threat

By: Bob | September 5th, 2006

December 10th can’t come soon enough. That is the date when Arsenal and Chelsea will meet for the first time this season and the likelihood of something fantastic happening increases with each day’s newest press release.

Today it was Arsenal defender William Gallas’ turn to respond to his former club’s claim that he threatened to score an own goal if he was put on the field for the season opener against Manchester City.

“I was firm about my wanting to leave, that is true, and I will explain in due time why I wanted to.

“But I never went that far. But if people want to hide behind false accusations in order to give a reason for why I left so they can calm down the club’s supporters then they can.

“All this is very, very petty on behalf of Chelsea. But at the same time, coming on behalf of its new leaders, that does not surprise me. Even if Chelsea has much money, its new leaders lack class.”

He might be right about the class thing, but we give the Chelsea “family” major credit for issuing the most entertaining and bizarre statement we have read in a couple of weeks.

Keep an eye out for floating bodies on the Thames come December 10.

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Category: English Premier League

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Daniel

Chelsea's front office definitely took the low road acting very childish and immature.
Luis

I'm sure they all have dirt on their hands including Gallas. Where money is concerned, nothing surprises me.
marcus

I can't believe the behavior of Chelsea and its PR office. To issue such a petulant, childish, trashy statement after the deal is all done and we're all ready for the season to really start shows their incredible lack of class. What an unprofessional thing to do. Gallas is no saint here but if this is the sort of crap he's been dealing with, I can't blame him for wanting to bail out. What lowlifes.
Chris

More Chelsea bullshit. Gallas has been one of their best players since Claudio Ranieri signed him yet he was on only £30,000 per week compared to John Terry's £90,000 and most Chelsea fans would admit Gallas is the better player.

Chelsea fans didn't want him to leave because they know how important he was to their success and right up until Gallas signed for Arsenal all the press had Jose Mourinho being against the sale but Chelsea CEO Peter Kenyon pushed it through.

Now a week later they release this statement saying Gallas threatened to score can own goal if they played him. Chelsea's Director of Communications, Simon Greenberg, has been all over the radio in the UK yesterday and today running through this statement but refusing to add anything to it or answer of the hard questions.

Suddenly Gallas has become enemy number one to Chelsea and a lot of other football fans for saying something that he's he's denied saying and the heat's off Kenyon because he's shown what a 'bad apple' Gallas was.

Gallas is right, Chelsea may have a dacha full of roubles but with the likes of Kenyon and Greenberg absolutley no class.