Arsenal-Mania

Vieira: Gallas hurt by criticism over captaincy

By Jonathan Chong on Friday, May 16, 2008

Midfielder Patrick Vieira has said that captain and defender William Gallas has been hurt by the criticism aimed at his brief captaincy at Arsenal.

The former Chelsea player has been under-fire for not motivating or guiding his young charges through the difficult games.

He was also heavily-criticised for his very public emotional display after the match against Birmingham City.

And manager Arsčne Wenger has hinted that Gallas might be stripped of the captaincy next season as he considers other potential candidates.

Vieira said: "I think it has been difficult for him. I have been talking to him and he has been hurt by the criticism he has received.

"Of course, he had a difficult moment. He is a really strong player who is committed to the club. He wants to prove that he deserves to be Arsenal captain, I know he wants to be a successful captain at Arsenal, and he will do everything he can.

"He is a really emotional person sometimes. He expresses his feelings and that is why he is so popular on the French national team.

"I hope he stays as captain. I think he is a leader of the team. He has experience. I think he has the full support of the players.

"It would have a bad effect on him (if he lost the captaincy) and everybody else in the team as well. If you had the captaincy taken off you after a year it would be difficult psychologically to start the next season not as captain.

"He might think about what he did wrong and think that he lost the manager and the players' trust. It would be a big blow for him and for the club and players."

User Comments

14

Rashad Homoud

Posted on 20 May, 2008 at 09:54 PM - Reply

I agree 100% that Gallas is the most suitable for the job

13

Lusekelo

Posted on 19 May, 2008 at 09:55 AM - Reply

Gallas should be stripped of the captaincy. He spoke a lot to the media and had a dig at Theo. A true leader won't do such nonsense. Wenger is his own man and Gallas won't be a captain next season regardless of Viera comments.A real captain should stand up where it matters most, like after the Birmingham match, not to be a sissy,get some jelly legs and sulking. I was ashamed to see that coz I never saw Tony Adams doing that, I was expecting Theo and Cesc to behave like that but they proved to be too mature for that kid of silly behaviour. I won't give a hoot if Gallas goes just because he is no longer a captain that will show that he came to Arsenal for his own selfish reasons. whether you will go or stay, either way I won't lose my sleep.

12

Oladokun Oluwagbenga

Posted on 19 May, 2008 at 08:01 AM - Reply

For me Gallas, is the most suitable man for the job. And i hope he learns to deal with situation in more mature way and also learns to cope with the English press. At least it is one year experience for big Wily G. Better days will surely come

11

richo

Posted on 19 May, 2008 at 12:12 AM - Reply

r u guys out of your f@##@n mind gallas is a great leader of our club and if he gets sacked as captain than our club is falling apart i cant think of a better captain at our club than gallas i reckon that if we didn't have gallas sanga and clichy would of had no clue

10

PHIL COVENTRY

Posted on 17 May, 2008 at 03:56 PM - Reply

He is a great player but he did not showed enough this season.Of course the whole team is to be blamed except Theo,Sagnia,Fab. Beside Wenge must change his stratrgy exceptionally when players are on the pitch.When we had few injuries,he badly used some of the players like Toure and Eboue.He is a great manager but he has to be realistic some times.It is crutial to move toure to the right and play Senderos at central back.He should have keep toure central back and play Eboue on the right instead.That has really punished the team at the end of the season.Now he is talking of recruiting 2 or 3 players which is not enough.Flamini is gone and we must buy 1 keeper, 2 defenders, 2 midfielders, 1 attacker much better than Adeb.. or Bent..What we need next season is results and not just goog games.

9

bojan jansky

Posted on 17 May, 2008 at 02:04 PM - Reply

He violated his Captaincy role. If Flamini had been on flame 2 season ago. I think he would have been a better Captain. Toure was another choice but he's too quiet. Cesc, too young. My point is GALLAS IS STILL ARSENAL'S CAPTAIN unless he wants to leave.

8

Adewale Abiodun A.

Posted on 17 May, 2008 at 12:00 PM - Reply

I think Viera understands the situation quiet well. Gilberto Silva is just recovering from the trauma of loosing the captaincy. For me, Gilberto is a better leader than Gallas but poor him, he lost even his first team place. In other not to fill our team with psychologically disadvantaged people, let's make do with our riotous captain Gallas, at least for next season.

7

galloway

Posted on 16 May, 2008 at 08:14 PM - Reply

just look at ferdinand in man utd.he actually motivate his team mates and do everything to win matches and that is a mask for being a captain.Gallas is not good at defence and he dont deserve to captain Arsenal becuase he is not good.i will actually blame arsene wenger and question him why he always give captain to french players in the team. i do not understand why other foriegn players does not recieve captainship in the arsenal team. i blame wenger and Gallas for causing our downfall. i want fabregas to captain arsenal next season.

6

PEJOLI

Posted on 16 May, 2008 at 06:00 PM - Reply

As a Gooner your supposed to support your team and players, and I do. I can't see any other player being better suited than William Gallas. I have seen how he“s talking to the younger players and with his experience there is no one better captain. Also, you can not blame him for being dedicated. Get behind your team and captain!

5

Abbey Quadri

Posted on 16 May, 2008 at 05:41 PM - Reply

Gallas should be given a chance to prove himself that he's not a looser i know he's such a strong player with a winning mentality. I believe if given another chance, things wil definitely be alrihgt. what happened at Birmingham City could happen to anybody. Lets stay togethet at arsenal with one mind and that will be good for the team.

4

Morgan

Posted on 16 May, 2008 at 05:36 PM - Reply

I dont think Gallas is a natural leader, he has too much of a selfish streak for that. But I dont think Vieira should have said what he did, because I think Wenger respects his opinion still and I dont want an ex-player to influence the decisions of Wenger.

3

Dapson

Posted on 16 May, 2008 at 05:33 PM - Reply

He is dedicated to the team as stated above,but he need to be changed from central defence to another place.He can retain as captain or try another person like tuore.

2

Scott

Posted on 16 May, 2008 at 03:18 PM - Reply

I do not fault Gallas for his emotional displays or his play. However, Arsenal gave up too many critical goals late in games which is where I think you see a true captain. A good captain can motivate his players to give everything in the last moments of games to close them out. I am not saying it is all Gallas fault but he has to take some of the blame. When Adams was the captain you rarely saw Arsenal giving up crucial goals late in games.