voldemort

Speaking with BBC Sport after his team's disappointing 0-3 defeat at the hands of the Ivorians, Francois Jodar said he used Momo as a mere substitute because he wasn’t angry that the player left for Turin while the team was still involved in the African Cup of Nations.

"I'm not happy with Sissoko for leaving our camp - he disrespected African football," seethed Jodar.

"That's why I put him on the bench and I only brought him in the second half to replace the injured Kanoute," the disappointed Frenchman told BBC Sport.

A visibly angry Jodar continued, "Juventus is a club that can afford to provide a jet for Sissoko and return him on the same day or the next day.

"But they didn't do that. Instead they put the player on a public flight which meant he returned a day late for our match preparations against Ivory Coast - this was to our detriment.

"If Sissoko was a French player, do you think he would have behaved in this way? "If he did, he would not be given the chance to play again in the tournament."

However Sisoko has insisted that the Turin journey was key to his development as a player, and as such he expect Monsieur Jodar to show restraint.

"I flew to Italy because it was important for my future and my football career," protested the former Liverpool man.

"I don't think I should be blamed for that and I expected the coach to show understanding."

source:goal.com