Diarra: I've got no regrets quitting Arsenal
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SETTLED ... Diarra has finally got his wish for regular football
LASSANA DIARRA believes victory in Saturday’s FA Cup final will prove he was right to quit Arsenal after just six months. Portsmouth’s French midfielder is just 23 but is already playing for the sixth club of his career. And he makes no apologies for his haste after testing the patience of both Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger before his £4.5million move to Pompey in January.
Diarra said: “I am a professional footballer who wants to play every week and show what I can do. “I wasn’t able to do that at Chelsea or Arsenal and that is why I left them. “I tried to do my best in every game I played for Arsenal but maybe it wasn’t good enough for Arsene Wenger.
“I wanted more consideration from the manager. But if you are playing well and the manager doesn’t put you on the pitch you have to do something about it.” Diarra insists he has no regrets about leaving Arsenal despite the gaping hole left in Wenger’s midfield by Mathieu Flamini’s move to AC Milan.
He said: “Flamini is my friend and he deserves to go to a club like Milan. “But I don’t know if Arsenal now regret selling me and don’t care if they do. “With the European Championships coming up, it was very important for me to play regularly.
"Portsmouth have given me the opportunity to do that. They are the only club I now care about.”
Diarra — an unused sub for Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Manchester United last year — has not lost in his 10 FA Cup games, an impressive record he is keen to extend against Cardiff. He said: “I will be at Wembley on Saturday and with Portsmouth next season. I am very happy about that.”
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haha loser...now u only can win FA cup and League cup
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Lassana Diarra leading Portsmouth push for glory
When Harry Redknapp signed Lassana Diarra from Arsenal in January, eyebrows were raised. Why were Portsmouth adding another player to an already overcrowded area of their squad, and why did a promising France midfield player want to leave a club in the big four?
The answers came in Diarra’s outstanding form given regular playing time, which has helped Portsmouth reach Saturday’s FA Cup final against Cardiff City and cemented his place in Raymond Domenech’s France squad for the European Championships. The remaining mystery is why Arsene Wenger, having signed Diarra from Chelsea for £2 million on August 31 last year, did not play him more often.
For this question you have to talk to Arsene Wenger because every time he put me on the pitch I tried to do my best,” Diarra, 23, said. “For him, I don't know if it was good enough or not, but for me... “This is why I left: because I wanted more consideration, not just to play every week. When you are in the team and even if you play well the manager doesn't want to put you on the pitch, you have to do something. I didn’t understand it, but I don't think about Arsenal now, I am just focused on Portsmouth."
He took advice from a former teammate before deciding on a move to Fratton Park. “After I spoke to the manager it was easy, but I also spoke with Frank Lampard at Chelsea and he knows the manager and said it would be a very good move. We have reached the final and that is why I am here.”
But more important than the chance for medals was the opportunity to play. “With the European Championship coming up it was very important for me. France have a very good team and strong squad, but I've played in 11 of the last 12 games. I am in the squad and try to do what the manager says. If he says I play, I play, and if he says I’m on the bench, okay.”
Somehow, Domenech has managed a trick that was beyond Wenger in satisfying Diarra with a place in the pecking order behind Claude Makelele and Patrick Vieira. “Makelele and Patrick Vieira are very big players,” he said. “They are 35 and 32 and if I am not picked I know my time will come.”
His implied criticism of Wenger does not apply to Jose Mourinho, the former Chelsea manager, whom he credits for his confidence. “I was 19 when I signed for Chelsea and I trained with very big players and this is why you feel more comfortable and you believe in your football.
“He was special for me. When I was there he spoke with me … not exactly like my dad, but he explained everything to me. This is why when I am doing well, I think back to some of the words he said to me two or three years ago.
“I remember him telling me when I was at Chelsea: ‘You have the quality so just believe in yourself’. I hope he gets a big team and I wish him good luck. Wenger is Wenger and Mourinho is Mourinho - they are different people. I respect Arsene and Mourinho and I know which one I prefer - but that is for me to know.”
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i think portsmouth last few games has been awfully bad.
i hope their preparation of the last few EPL games wont come and hunt them in the FA cup.
i am for one dont believe in conserve your player from injury few games before the big one. some player could lose touch come the big one.
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yeah.. stay at arsenal tis season mean no trophies n hope at all..
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he needs to leave because he has to get into the euro squad.. anyway i predict big things for this young guy, the guy who will take over makelele..
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i dont think he is same league as makekele.
otherwise, wenger wouldnt left him go for 3million pound. since he know flamini hasnt sign a new contract/
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Originally posted by SiMiLaiEh*:
haha loser...now u only can win FA cup and League cup
at least he is in the running for the FA cup.
wat abt arsenal?
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good choice diarra
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he has a lot of potential. i was surprised chelsea sold him to arsenal. i was shocked arsenal sold him to portsmouth.
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Originally posted by dragg:
he has a lot of potential. i was surprised chelsea sold him to arsenal. i was shocked arsenal sold him to portsmouth.
chelsea didn't have a choice, it was his final year of the contract.. and yes he has lotsa potential..
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yes, he is good but not world class.
i think muntari is a good player, too bad he play in a average team, otherwise he is a good asset to the top 4.