Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny says Liverpool's Luis Suarez is a cheat
By Patrick Haond. Last Updated: October 15, 2012 10:43am
Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny has blasted Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, accusing the Uruguayan of being a "cheat".
Suarez has come under fire in recent weeks after being accused by Stoke boss Tony Pulis earlier this month of going to ground too easily.
FIFA also waded into the Suarez debate, with vice-president Jim Boyce calling on the Football Association to take action after seeing simulation become 'a cancer within the game'.
Suarez angrily hit back at the comments from Boyce and now Koscielny has joined the list of critics of the Liverpool forward, saying he hates playing against the player because of his antics.
"Who is the forward I hate to face? Suarez," Koscielny told L'Equipe. "Last season I didn't feel too well.
"It was a match at 12.30 and I don't like that schedule.
"He is tiresome to defend against. He cheats. He pulls your shirt, giving small blows. You always want to give him a kick but you have to be careful not to be red carded.
"For example on September 2 against Liverpool, it was the case with Luis Suarez.
"He is a player who likes to dive as soon as there is contact. During a challenge we jostled a bit each other and he fell.
"He started to talk to me in English, to say it was a penalty."
Koscielny admits the striker who impressed him most was former Chelsea ace Didier Drogba.
"He is strong, he is good when he plays with his back to goal, a great header of the ball and good in the gaps," Koscielny said of Drogba.
"He is the first defender, running everywhere. We saw against Barcelona last season. On his own, he crashed the Barcelona ship."
Asked about Wayne Rooney, Koscielny said of the Manchester United striker: "He is very clever, even if Robin van Persie is even smarter.
"He goes back to the midfield quite often. Rooney likes the ball and to assist."