Podolski: "I never had a problem with Wenger."

Lukas Podolski has again hit out at Arsene Wenger"s treatment of him a Asenalt, insisting "only he knows why I wasn't played regularly".


The striker joined Inter on a six-month loan deal last week, but promptly criticised the Gunners boss over a lack of respect - accusations Wenger has since categorically denied.

Podolski failed to start a Premier League game this season before moving to Italy, and the German has pointed to his scoring record - 19 goals in 60 appearances for the club - as to why he should have been picked more.

"I never had a problem with Wenger... much has been hyped up. And the only thing I have criticised was that he did not wish me good luck in Milan," he told Bild.

"Why this [Wenger not playing him regularly] was so, he alone knows. After the World Cup in summer he still said how important I was for him. When I played, I performed. Statistics do not lie.

"The responsibility for preparation is the sole responsibility of the coach. So he must know why I barely got a chance. Then I had to find a solution, and it was Inter. The club is still one of the top ten in the world."

Source: goal.com