Scharner: Comments were necessary

07 March 2011 10:30
West Brom midfielder Paul Scharner believes his outspoken comments about his team-mates two months ago have been justified with their revival in fortunes.

The Austrian publicly claimed the squad - including himself - had allowed their standards to drop during a dismal run of results which saw the Baggies slide towards the relegation zone.

It did not make the former Wigan man popular with some of his fellow players, but Scharner insists his outburst was justified and needed to spark a reaction.

Albion's upturn under new boss Roy Hodgson continued with Saturday's 3-1 at Birmingham, which followed on from a 1-1 draw at Stoke, and Scharner told Press Association Sport: "I'm one of the oldest players and one of the most experienced.

"A few weeks ago I said those things to wake the players up, to show responsibility and to be professional. It was my responsibility as well you know. The most important thing is self-criticism and responsibility. You can find excuses from anywhere.

"We knew we had to look at ourselves and try to stop it. We were fighting relegation and I thought that's why I had to do something. Those comments were necessary."

Scharner added: "It's in the past and we're now back on the focus street and trying to get the points we need to stay up. You can see that the players have responded - at Stoke last week and against Birmingham on Saturday."

Source: PA