Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has likened international managers to joy-riding car thieves.
Wenger has often vented his frustration when some of his players return from international duty complaining of fatigue or carrying injuries.
‘Gerard (Houllier’s) thoughts on the matter echo mine,” Wenger said.
“He thinks that what the national coaches are doing is like taking the car from his garage without even asking permission.
“They will then use the car for 10 days and abandon it in a field without any petrol left in the tank.
“We then have to recover it, but it is broken down. Then a month later they will come to take your car again, and for good measure you’re expected to be nice about it.”
Wenger did have praise for former England coach Sven Goran-Eriksson, who maintained good relations with the club managers during his tenure.
“Sven-Goran Eriksson was the only one who used to come and talk to me regularly,” Wenger added.
