Domenech: France World Cup rebels brats
Reuters - Tuesday 15 February 2011, 17:47
PARIS - Former France coach Raymond
Domenech has labelled the players who mutinied at last year's
World Cup as "horrible unthinking brats" but has conceded he
also made mistakes.
France crashed out in the first round in South Africa and
some players quit training in protest at striker Nicolas Anelka
being sent home for swearing at the coach.
"Everyone has talked in my place. I want to restore my
truth. I am not the moron people describe me as," he said in an
interview with L'Express magazine on Tuesday.
"I don't accept the criticisms of the politicians or the
former players who became journalists, but that does not prevent
me from drawing my own conclusions.
"At that moment (in South Africa), I said to myself that
they were mad and they didn't understand. I was wrong. They knew
very well what they were doing. They even shut the curtains on
the bus to hide from the cameras.
"With hindsight, I see them above all as a bunch of horrible
unthinking brats."
Captain Patrice Evra was among the players banned for the
debacle and even though the left back's suspension is now over
new coach Laurent Blanc has decided not to recall him.
The often eccentric Domenech, sacked by France after the
World Cup for professional misconduct and now claiming 2.9
million euros in compensation, has "not closed
the door on football" and denied reports he had been asked on a
reality television show.
"Proposals have been made to me for the theatre, for the
cinema...nothing for television, no. Honestly, how would you
imagine me on a reality TV show?," he said.
"I still need to sweep away certain memories before being
able to start a new adventure. It's like love. You need to
forget a woman before being able to love another."