KABOUL BACKS ADAMS TO COME GOOD AGAINST ARSENAL
Younes Kaboul is so desperate to help his Portsmouth manager Tony Adams that he is willing to play tomorrow afternoon’s game against Arsenal even though he is not 100 per cent fit.
The 22-year-old centre back, who last featured in the magnificent 2-2 draw with Italian giants AC Milan in the Uefa Cup last month, is struggling with an ankle injury and believes that those who doubt the ex-Gunners captain’s managerial ability will soon be proved wrong.
Adams, who had an unsuccessful stint as Wycombe manger in 2003, played over 500 games for Arsenal and took over the reins at Portsmouth after Harry Redknapp switched to Kaboul’s former club Tottenham in late October.
Since taking charge the 42-year-old has garnered only nine points from a possible 30 in the Premier League, and after a 4-1 home drubbing at the hands of West Ham United on Boxing Day, Portsmouth are only three points clear of the relegation zone.
But Kaboul has backed Adams, and said: “We all think Tony is a great manger and we are all behind him. Though we have lost the last three games, we have been unlucky and that is no reflection on Tony’s skill as a manager. He is fantastic and I hate to see people criticising him.
“Though the results have gone against us we are not letting our heads get down and we are going to try and do everything we can to help him out and turn our fortunes around.
“I want to help the boss out as much as I can – I even want to play against Arsenal even though I am not fully fit. I want to turn in a really big performance. It would be great if Tony could beat his old team – that would perhaps give us the confidence to go on a good run and get out of trouble.”
For France Under-21 international Kaboul, victory at the Emirates would be doubly sweet, as he moved from Arsenal’s north London rivals Tottenham in the summer, and is close friends with many of Arsène Wenger’s squad.
“I would especially like to beat Arsenal – in the two derbies I played in last year I lost (3-1 at White Hart Lane and 2-1 at the Emirates),” he continued. “It would be special for me as I grew up playing with a lot of the young French players, too. Bacary Sagna, in particular, I knew very well as we both played at Auxerre in France. I just really hope we can get the right result at the Emirates for Tony.”
Younes Kaboul is so desperate to help his Portsmouth manager Tony Adams that he is willing to play tomorrow afternoon’s game against Arsenal even though he is not 100 per cent fit.
The 22-year-old centre back, who last featured in the magnificent 2-2 draw with Italian giants AC Milan in the Uefa Cup last month, is struggling with an ankle injury and believes that those who doubt the ex-Gunners captain’s managerial ability will soon be proved wrong.
Adams, who had an unsuccessful stint as Wycombe manger in 2003, played over 500 games for Arsenal and took over the reins at Portsmouth after Harry Redknapp switched to Kaboul’s former club Tottenham in late October.
Since taking charge the 42-year-old has garnered only nine points from a possible 30 in the Premier League, and after a 4-1 home drubbing at the hands of West Ham United on Boxing Day, Portsmouth are only three points clear of the relegation zone.
But Kaboul has backed Adams, and said: “We all think Tony is a great manger and we are all behind him. Though we have lost the last three games, we have been unlucky and that is no reflection on Tony’s skill as a manager. He is fantastic and I hate to see people criticising him.
“Though the results have gone against us we are not letting our heads get down and we are going to try and do everything we can to help him out and turn our fortunes around.
“I want to help the boss out as much as I can – I even want to play against Arsenal even though I am not fully fit. I want to turn in a really big performance. It would be great if Tony could beat his old team – that would perhaps give us the confidence to go on a good run and get out of trouble.”
For France Under-21 international Kaboul, victory at the Emirates would be doubly sweet, as he moved from Arsenal’s north London rivals Tottenham in the summer, and is close friends with many of Arsène Wenger’s squad.
“I would especially like to beat Arsenal – in the two derbies I played in last year I lost (3-1 at White Hart Lane and 2-1 at the Emirates),” he continued. “It would be special for me as I grew up playing with a lot of the young French players, too. Bacary Sagna, in particular, I knew very well as we both played at Auxerre in France. I just really hope we can get the right result at the Emirates for Tony.”
Labels: Arsenal, Portsmouth, Premier League, Younes Kaboul
