Pulis tells Wenger to stop fixture moans

December 18, 2009

Stoke manager Tony Pulis has told Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger to stop “moaning like a drain” about fixture congestion, saying the Gunners ought to be able to play three games in a week.

Wenger was also unhappy with Wolves manager Mick McCarthy’s decision to field a second-string side in a 3-0 defeat by the London club’s top four rivals Manchester United on Tuesday.

The Frenchman, speaking after Arsenal’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Burnley on Wednesday, slammed a fixture list which saw Wenger’s club playing three games in a week while Hull, their opponents on Saturday, had no midweek match.

“Wenger is moaning like a drain because it doesn’t suit Arsenal. He ain’t moaning because it doesn’t suit Stoke,” said Pulis. “He is saying it because it doesn’t suit him and that was what Mick has done.

“I don’t think it was the walk in the park (for United) that people are suggesting.

“The players Mick played, most of them are seasoned professionals – he hasn’t played the youth team – who he has spent decent money on.

“There is one important point here and that is that Mick McCarthy will do whatever he thinks is best for Wolves.”

Stoke had their match on Tuesday against Fulham postponed as the Cottagers were involved in Europa League action the following day.

Pulis argued that worked against his side as, having hosted Wigan last weekend, he would have liked to have had back-to-back home games.

Instead Stoke now face successive away trips to Aston Villa on Saturday and then Manchester City.

“We would have preferred to have got that game in – it was a home game – because it would have been advantageous,” Pulis said.

“We are a little bit disappointed we have not played but the success Fulham have had getting caught up in Europa Cup games is no fault of theirs.

“We have now got two very tough games, Villa and Manchester City away, and then we play the form team Birmingham on Monday week so it is a tough test for us.

“No disrespect to Wenger or any foreign manager but I don’t think there is anything wrong with asking professional athletes to perform twice in three or four days.

“We have had to take it on the chin because I’d have preferred to have played Fulham on Tuesday.

“That is the way it crumbles. Sometimes it goes for you, sometimes it goes against you.”

LONDON (AFP)

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