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Arsene Wenger has confirmed he will not be amused should France follow through with plans to play Costa Rica on November 9.
Following a plane crash that killed hundreds of people in Martinique, France coach Raymond Domenech is keen to travel to the West Indies to play a charity game.
Wenger is worried that Thierry Henry will be called-up and he is of the opinion that it will be a game and trip too soon for his talented forward.
''I will talk to Raymond Domenech,'' said Wenger. ''If I get the confirmation that the French team will go to Martinique, I will not be happy.
''Thierry Henry has just recovered from injury and I will ask him to stay.''
Lyon boss Gerard Houllier has echoed the words of his Arsenal counterpart and is equally scathing in his appraisal of the situation.
''I don?t agree, it is a damned stupidity,'' Houllier told L'Equipe.
''Raymond says the players play too many matches and he wants to bring them to Martinique after seven matches in 20 days.
''As Lyon gives a third of the internationals, I can say I don?t agree.
''I am convinced I won?t be the only coach to react that way.
''The trips are tiring and I think it is a mistake. I am not sure to be keen to let six or seven players leave.''
Whilst club managers have expressed their reservations, Domenech seems determined to carry through with his idea of a trip to the West Indies.
''We are in talks. As long as we were not qualified, we could not set anything up, but I always wanted to play a second match with Germany.
''Of course the clubs can prevent the match as it is on November 9, which is not an international date.
''But if they don?t want us to play on November 9, we will play on November 16 against a European team, and they will get back their players on November 17, rather than one week before, allowing a full week of rest after France versus Germany.
''It is the opportunity for the French team to pay a tribute to Antilles, which gave us so many great talents.
''And it is also a solidarity act for the victims' families in the airplane crash.
''To my eyes, there are more advantages than disadvantages to that trip.'' |
Source: Sky Sports |
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