Chelsea Football Club News

• Nickname:Blues
• Founded:1905
• Manager:Roberto Di Matteo

• Ground:Stamford Bridge
• Capacity:42,440

Taylor attacks Blues

06 Sep 2006 - 08:41:30

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Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor has launched a scathing attack on Chelsea after they released a statement explaining why they felt they had no option but to sell William Gallas.

The France international joined Arsenal on transfer deadline day after the Premiership champions performed a dramatic u-turn on their stance that he was not for sale.

Chelsea subsequently claimed Gallas had refused to play on several occasions and that he threatened to score an own goal if selected to face Manchester City on the opening day of the season.

Taylor cannot understand why Blues officials chose to make the allegations, which were quickly denied by Gallas.

"Why do they have to wash their dirty linen in public? I do not see what purpose it serves," said Taylor.

"Talking about someone threatening to put through their own goal is very damaging to the reputation of a player who has done a great job for Chelsea, and you really have to take it with a large pinch of salt.

"We have all seen William Gallas play and he has too much respect for his colleagues to even be thinking about such things.

"The player has, of course, refuted the allegations and has a choice now of whether to go to court, or to just get on with his football career.

"It just all leaves a bad taste in the mouth and I cannot see what Chelsea were hoping to achieve.

"Why did Chelsea have to spin things that way? There was no need for them to add fuel to the flames. I feel it is unnecessary.

"It would have been nice to say 'okay, things did not work out well in the end, we appreciate what you did while you were with us in winning championships and let's move on'."