Source: Team_Talk
Pulis pours scorn on Begovic claims
Stoke boss Tony Pulis has described the situation surrounding wantaway goalkeeper Asmir Begovic as being part of a "disease" in football.[LNB] Begovic - linked with a move to Chelsea this summer - missed the Potters' 2-1 victory over Shrewsbury in the Carling Cup on Tuesday, with Pulis claiming afterwards that the 23-year-old had refused to play.[LNB]Yesterday the Professional Footballers' Association revealed Begovic subsequently contacted them saying that he did not refuse to take part in the match, but had indicated, when asked by Pulis if he was 100% fit and ready to play, that "his mind was a little bit scrambled" and that he would prefer not to play if there was an alternative.[LNB]That does not seem to have improved the Bosnian's position with his manager though.[LNB]"I had a good meeting with (Stoke chairman) Peter (Coates) yesterday and we'll deal with it internally," Pulis said.[LNB]"I'm disappointed that the kid has come out now and said that it wasn't him who decided he wasn't going to play. I think that is desperately disappointing and I will speak to him about that.[LNB]"We had a (team) meeting on Tuesday, I picked the team, he was in it and then we went out and trained. I told Carlo Nash he was going to be on the bench, I told Thomas Sorensen he wasn't involved, and I will leave you to decide then who changed who's opinion.[LNB]"I'm really disappointed with the stuff that has come out, but we'll deal with it in-house and we certainly won't be pushed or bullied into a situation where we are releasing players, never mind what the situation is."[LNB]Begovic only joined Stoke from Portsmouth last season and Pulis has vowed to stand up for the Potters against anybody looking to tempt the player away.[LNB]"He's a good kid and he has been smashing ever since he joined this club, but something has turned his head," Pulis said.[LNB]"It happens now in football and he is not the only one it has happened to - people blow in their ears, outside influences, and sometimes unfortunately they overstep the mark.[LNB]"I think you have to be strong enough as a football club, no matter how much pressure is being put on, to stand up at times and really protect your club.[LNB]"We paid good money to buy him and pay him good money to be here and play for this football club.[LNB]"It's not all to do with the kid - there are people behind the scenes who have to take responsibility as well for what has gone on."[LNB]He continued: "He is a grown-up, but you have got experienced players getting involved in this as well.[LNB]"It is the not the first time it has happened and it will not be the last. It is just a disease which has grown and grown and grown."
