• Champions League

Flamini insists he's not a dirty player

ESPN staff
March 7, 2011
Tottenham were far from happy with Mathieu Flamini's tackle on Verdan Corluka © Getty Images
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AC Milan head to Tottenham this week for the second leg of their Champions League clash and Mathieu Flamini may be public enemy No. 1 after making the claim that too much fuss has been made of his tackle on Verdran Corluka.

Corluka has not played since going off injured following Flamini's wild lunge at the Croat during Spurs' 1-0 win at the San Siro. Corluka is unlikely to play any part in the second leg on account of ankle damage, but Flamini will make the trip with his Milan team-mates.

The former Arsenal man has not received the attention he might have done had the game not been overshadowed by Gennaro Gattuso's headbutt on Spurs coach Joe Jordan. But on the eve of the second leg, Flamini has thrust himself into the spotlight by insisting he is not a dirty player and that too much fuss has been made about his tackle on Corluka.

"In four years in the Premier League I've never injured an opponent," Flamini told The Sun. "I was never sent off in England. Never.

"I am a defensive midfielder so of course I am in the 'tough' area of the pitch but this was the first time a player was injured by a challenge I made. I am not a dirty player. I didn't have a bad intention.

"Everything I do, it's always on the ball. You can see I'm going for the ball not for the man. I didn't mean to go with two feet. I shouldn't have but I didn't mean to.

"I can understand people complain about what happened. But I think it's part of the game.

"I apologised for what I did. Unfortunately he got injured but I went to the dressing room and apologised to Vedran personally and he accepted it.

"I'm not saying I was in the right but let's not make such a fuss. I'd never injured anybody before.

"It's really tough to hear that I went for the guy and I went to break his leg. Not at all."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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