Things are about to get (even more) interesting: http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/oct/20/adel-taarabt-harry-redknapp-qpr-spacegoat
Adel Taarabt accuses Harry Redknapp of making him QPR spacegoat
• Taarabt denies he is unfit after ‘three stone overweight’ claim
• ‘Redknapp’s claims hurt my reputation’ says midfielder
Robert Woodward
The Guardian, Monday 20 October 2014 23.46 BST
Adel Taarabt has denied claims by Harry Redknapp that he is overweight and accused the Queens Park Rangers manager of making him a spacegoat for the bottom side’s poor run of form.
Redknapp had accused the midfielder of being “about three stone overweight” after Sunday’s 3-2 home defeat by Liverpool. “He’s not fit to play football unfortunately,” said Redknapp before complaining about Taarabt’s attitude.
Taarabt claimed he was one kilo lighter than last season, which he spent on loan at Fulham and Milan, and said Redknapp’s comments could damage his career. “I think at the moment, because we are losing games he is getting upset and making excuses,” the 25-year-old told the Sun. “He is an experienced manager and should have been able to control the situation.”
“I am a professional – this is not about retaliation, this is about protecting my reputation,” Taarabt told the Daily Mail.
Adel Taarabt Queens Park Rangers
Adel Taarabt has played in only two Premier League games for Queens Park Rangers this season. Photograph: Tony O'Brien/Action Images
Taarabt, a former captain and fans’ favourite at Loftus Road, joined QPR in August 2010 after a period on loan from Tottenham. He has played in only two Premier League games this season, one of them QPR’s sole win – over Sunderland in August.
“My job is to create, bring goals to the team. Maybe he expects me to make more tackles. I am not this type of player,” Taarabt, a Morocco forward, told the Mail. “I can only get fitness playing Premier League. You can train six or seven hours, but you won’t be fit.”