Taylor hits back at Wenger's comments

Updated 09.04 Fri Feb 29 2008

Keywords: birmingham city, arsenal, eduardo, martin taylor, arsene wenger, football, sport

Birmingham City defender Martin Taylor has criticised Arsene Wenger's reaction to Eduardo's broken leg.

Taylor's clumsy tackle broke the Arsenal striker's leg in three places and he faces months out of action.

"They look at it in a different light because someone who is so learned has said something like that" - Martin Taylor

Wenger said after the game that Taylor should not play again. He later retracted the comment but Taylor has since received death threats.

Taylor said: "Personally it hasn't changed my view because I know it was an accident but it has affected the way people react to it. Arsene Wenger is one of the most highly-regarded managers in the game and people listen to what he says.

"They look at it in a different light because someone who is so learned has said something like that.

"It is a strange situation, looking in from the outside, watching the news, reading the newspapers. It feels like it is happening to someone else."

Hours after inflicting the injury, Taylor visited Eduardo in hospital.

He added: "I went to see him on Saturday but, unfortunately, he was still recovering from an operation, so first thing on Sunday morning I went to the hospital and he was really good to see me."

The severity of injuries usually dawns on patients after surgery and Taylor admitted that was a concern.

He said: "I was mindful of this and I thought maybe he wouldn't want to see me, which would have been fair enough because of the trauma.

"Although there was a language barrier, I just said that I didn't mean him any harm at all and that I hoped he made a quick recovery.

"He took it on board and nodded. I was just really glad we could communicate. He is obviously a really strong man. Since then, I have read in the papers that he would be happy for me to visit him. That's something I'd like to do."