Bruce blasts Ghaly
04 Aug 2007 - 17:02:29
-
- Bruce blasts Ghaly
Birmingham City boss Steve Bruce has launched a withering attack on Hossam Ghaly after deciding not to proceed with the signing of the Egypt international.
Bruce was unhappy with the Tottenham midfielder's attitude during training with the rest of the Blues squad on Friday and, after a blazing row, told the player to go back to White Hart Lane.
"His agent left a message and said that he (Ghaly) wasn't happy with the standard of players here," Bruce told the Birmingham Mail.
"I couldn't believe what I was hearing - and I've kept the message on my voicemail.
"He was moaning we 'don't do this, don't do that' at Tottenham, it 'wasn't right' and 'ridiculous'. He had a right petted lip on.
"Yes, strong words were said and he was told in no uncertain terms that if he didn't like it, he should clear off.
"There's no way I'm going to have someone criticising the squad, especially when they're supposed to be their new team-mates.
"And I'm not having anyone upsetting the togetherness and spirit we've worked so hard to build up here.
"Hossam Ghaly came from Tottenham's reserves and we were quite prepared to give him an opportunity to play regularly and establish himself.
"He had had the summer off and, after reporting back, hadn't trained properly for a couple of weeks or so as the transfer negotiations got going.
"For the previous four or five days he'd done nothing. He was way, way behind in his fitness."