Gilberto denies ‘rift with Wenger’ rumours
November 4, 2007
Source: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/sport/story/0,,2205081,00.html
Gilberto denies Wenger dispute
Gilberto Silva has been angered by reports of a fall-out with Arsene Wenger and that he refused to play at centre-back for the Arsenal manager in last Wednesday’s League Cup win at Sheffield United.
The Brazil midfielder admits that he is unhappy to have been relegated to the bench for much of this season, but insists that he had not and would never decline to play as a defender – a position in which he started his career and expects to end it.
‘It was strange, this thing that I had a fight with Arsene,’ said Gilberto. ‘I never did that. We have a mutual respect for each other and although I’m not happy to be on the bench, and he and everyone knows that, I always respect his decision about what he thinks is best for the team. I’m being very professional, so I don’t understand how these things come out when we don’t have any problem. I’m not the kind of person who would refuse to play.’
After an outstanding campaign last season, Gilberto won the Copa America with Brazil. Wenger granted him additional time to recover from the late summer competition, but such has been Mathieu Flamini’s form in central midfield that Gilberto has been unable to displace him from the team.
Gilberto recently turned 31, an age at which Wenger becomes more circumspect about renewing contracts. Gilberto’s expires in 18 months’ time and he is aware of interest from several major clubs, including Juventus, but will not make a decision on his future until next summer.
‘We’ll see at the end of the season what’s going to happen,’ he said. ‘But now I just play football and don’t think about what comes from outside.
‘I hope I will be back playing centre midfield soon. I’m working for that. It has been quite hard, but the only thing I can do is do my job and respect the manager and the team – to try to do my best when I have an opportunity.’
And that’s that.