• Premier League

Redknapp launches astonishing rant on Taarabt

Harry Redknapp launched an astonishing rant on Queens Park Rangers midfielder Adel Taarabt following his side's 3-2 home defeat to Liverpool on Sunday, claiming he cannot "protect people who are about three stone overweight."

Redknapp snapped when quizzed about Taarabt's injury status following the match. The manager paused in his post-match news conference to shove an advertising board that had been squeaking against his chair - exclaiming "that f*****g thing" - before challenging Taarabt to prove he has the work ethic to deserve his "60 to 70 grand a week" wages.

"No, he's not fit. He's not fit to play football, unfortunately," Redknapp said of Taarabt, who has only featured three times this season due to persistent ankle problems.

"He played in a reserve team game the other day, and I could have run about more than he did. So, no, I can't pick him.

Taarabt has played just 123 minutes this season © PA Photos

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"I pick people that want to try, and deserve to be at a good football club like QPR, and want to work, and come in every day and want to work, and train, and show a good attitude - and that's what I got today from the players.

"When he starts doing that, whether he ever can do it, maybe he'll get a game. The other lads, I've got a fantastic group of lads here, absolutely superb, all of them.

"I can't keep protecting people who don't want to run about and train, who are about three stone overweight. What am I supposed to keep saying? 'Keep getting your 60, 70 grand a week but don't train'?

"What's the game coming to? The others are as good as gold."

When asked why he believes QPR have struggled so far on their return to the Premier League, Redknapp added: "You have to understand - two weeks before the season started I had 12 players. I'm not making excuses - I had 12 outfield players at this football club.

"I went on tour to Ireland and I took 12 players with me. There wasn't another one injured, or one hiding behind the training ground, that was what I had - 12 left over from last year's Championship.

"And it was a last minute job when we had to bring players in. Some of them were off the pace. Leroy Fer hadn't really played. He'd been away to the World Cup, sat on the bench every game, probably being used as a mannequin or something when they were doing free-kicks. He comes back and he's not fit.

"I do my best. I do my best every day. I come in early every morning, I get to the training ground early and I leave late at night.

"I love my job and I do my best. I can't do any more and there ain't no one can do any better here than me. I hear other names mentioned, but they can't do any better than what I can do."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd