Source: Daily_Mail
Tottenham's Joe Jordan hits back at Gennaro Gattuso
EXCLUSIVE[LNB]He had the distinction of spearheading Manchester United's attack for three years, but Joe Jordan had no hesitation in nominating his move to AC Milan as the proudest moment of his career.[LNB]So enamoured was he with Serie A and the Italian lifestyle that when his time was up at the San Siro, two years later, he spent a further 12 months at Verona before returning to England to see out his career with Southampton and Bristol City.[LNB]The Scot still seizes every opportunity to revisit a country he considers his second home to catch up with old friends. And family, as one of his two daughters teaches English at a school in Milan.[LNB] Strangle hold: Gattuso hit the headlines for the wrong reasons after his feud with Jordan[LNB] Jordan recounted his varied and enduring links with Italy to Sportsmail as he tried to make sense of why a slur with racist overtones should be Gennaro Gattuso's explanation for the flashpoints at the San Siro on Tuesday.[LNB]The AC Milan midfielder grabbed Jordan by the throat at one stage, then headbutted him after the final whistle and all because the Tottenham coach had branded him a 'f****** Italian b******.' [LNB]So it was claimed, anyway, though it was given short shrift by Jordan, as he outlined why, of all the accounts Gattuso might have put forward, anything with an anti-Italian theme was least likely to hold water.[LNB]'It's just a nonsense, it really is,' he said. 'It's a figment of his imagination and, I have to say, not a great imagination, at that. If he wanted to try and explain his behaviour, you would have thought he might have come up with something better than that.[LNB]'It's pathetic. Completely and utterly untrue and quite pathetic. He will have to address his conduct overall, and account for himself to UEFA, but the allegation he has made is something else. I'm not having that, because Italy has played an important part in my life and will continue to.[LNB]'Milan are an exceptional club and I consider myself very fortunate to have played for them. I had plenty of high points in my career, but signing for them was the best thing I did. They gave me a chapter in my career I always hankered after, a spell playing abroad, and I could not have picked a better club.[LNB]'With a season at Verona, I had three years over there in all and it was the most rewarding experience of my career.[LNB]'Now my daughter is loving the lifestyle out there, just as I did. She lives in Milan, speaks the language fluently and is teaching English to Italian kids at a local school.[LNB]'If I'm not visiting her, I'm renewing friendships in Milan and Verona that have lasted from my time playing out there. I love Italy and have always had an affinity with the people. Does that sound like someone who would come out with the sort of line Gattuso has got his agent to say? I just find it pathetic on his part, I really do.' [LNB]Jordan did not flinch when Gattuso made contact after the final whistle and he remained unmoved, as he reflected on the mayhem that ensued after a famous Tottenham win. [LNB]He said: 'I won't dignify his actions at the end by saying too much about it. He will have to try and explain it away himself, but, for me, it's over. Forgotten. I have moved on and turned my thoughts to our next game, at Blackpool on Tuesday.[LNB]'I have no idea why he got so heated, other than he does seem to have a reputation as a volatile character who lets things get to him. It may have looked like he was targeting only me, but they were by no means isolated incidents.[LNB] Milan star: A young Jordan[LNB]Stat attack: Joe Jordan's Italian adventure[LNB] 'He was at it all over the park. There were plenty of other examples and I'm quite happy for people to make judgments on what they saw.[LNB]'There are still people at the club from my time there and I chatted with a few afterwards. What was said was between us, but I left on the same friendly terms that existed before. Let's just say long-standing friendships were not affected one bit.[LNB]'What happened shouldn't detract from a great performance and result. There was a lot of maturity about us, and the boys will derive great benefit from the experience. [LNB]'It is only by playing the likes of AC Milan in front of 70,000 people and showing you can handle it that you grow and progress as a team.'[LNB] Milan nutter Gattuso charged as Redknapp reveals he tried to sign bad boy last summerJordan accused of 'cowardly' four-letter insult as Gattuso faces lengthy banMartin Samuel: Spineless UEFA will let off Flamini, the real San Siro villainAll the latest Tottenham news, features and opinion [LNB] Explore more:Places: Milan, United Kingdom, Italy
