' Solskjaer defends Aron Gunnarsson '

Saturday 19th April 2014.


http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foot ... 69492.html

Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists the club will defend and support midfielder Aron Gunnarsson after the player was linked to the alleged leak of team details to Crystal Palace.

The Bluebirds have lodged an official complaint with the Premier League, claiming that details of their team to take on Palace on April 5 were leaked to officials at the London club. Press Association Sport understands that they have requested that the result of the match - which finished 3-0 to Palace - be overturned.

Gunnarsson's name had been linked with the investigation into the leak, but he has strongly denied any involvement in the matter and Solskjaer insists the player has the club's full support and said he would be involved in the squad for Saturday's home game against Stoke barring injury.

"We will defend his name and reputation to the edge of the cliff, definitely," the Norwegian said.

"He will be involved in the squad, definitely (on Saturday). He is there training. He will be involved unless he gets an injury."

League chiefs will decide whether the complaint should be taken forward - it is understood there remains uncertainty about whether any regulation would have been breached even if the allegation was proven.

If the complaint is taken forward it could be dealt with by either the Premier League's board or more likely an independent commission.

Cardiff's complaint centres on the circumstances surrounding the alleged leaking of their team.

Palace sporting director Iain Moody worked for Cardiff until earlier this season before taking up a post at Selhurst Park in November.

It has been reported that Cardiff believe Moody might have used his contacts at the Welsh club, or close to Cardiff, to find out which players would start against Palace.

Moody, though, has rejected the allegations as "incredibly, extraordinarily untrue" and Palace have also denied the claims.

Solskjaer added: "We've had issues internally. We've dealt with it and we've sent a report to the Premier League, and that is the end of the matter for us.

"We trust the Premier League to deal with whatever is required.

"The players have dealt with it fantastically. We've had a couple of chats, and that is the end of the matter.

"We've had issues, we deal with it as a club and you move on. You want to try to get past that, of course. You want to become a club that just talks about the football.

"But we are in a fight to survive, and there is always going to be some noise on and off the pitch.

"I did have a good guess-estimate of Palace's team. That's just football, you do your ground work, you have got your scouts, you analyse them, but we do it the right way.

"To move forward we need to make a few changes. We have made a few changes, and probably more changes. It doesn't have to relate to this (matter).

"You come into a new club that has not been yours, and you want to make it yours over time, gradually."

Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall also launched a strong defence of Gunnarsson.

"The one thing I will say is that Aron would never give somebody, or the opposition manager or anybody our team line-up to try and help them and go against us," Marshall said.

"He is one of the hardest-working and most honest people I have come across in the game, so I don't know how it has come across that Aron's given it, but I would put my life on it that Aron has not been involved in it.

"In terms of the leak, I think if people are doing that, nine out of 11 you could probably guess every Saturday who is going to be starting the game, but the point is if people within the club are trying to help other teams go against us it's not good enough.

"If the club do have proof of that, it's not a problem, they can follow that up. The club has got every right to pursue it if they feel they have got a case.

"With Aron's situation the last couple of days it has probably brought the team closer.

"That was one of our main strengths last year, how tight the group was, and even though the things we have gone through this year - the change of manager, change of personnel and staff - it has remained like that."

Palace boss Tony Pulis was asked at his pre-match press conference on Friday if reaching the league 40-point mark following a midweek win at Everton had been overshadowed by the Cardiff issue.

"No, not at all," the Wales-born manager said.

"If we have to go up and meet the Premier League, or whoever it is that we have to meet, then we'll do it in the right and proper manner. We won't do it any other way, and I think that is important.

"As a manager and as a coach, I log every session that I do, and I'll be taking those sessions up to the Premier League to show that I picked my team on Monday before we played Cardiff on the Saturday.

"That team was worked with for a week and there were no changes in it whatsoever."

Anyone who even thought Gunnar was to blame needs to learn how to understand words again.

There is so much bullshit in the media when it comes to our club that I've come to the conclusion that they're printing blatent lies just to make us the laughing stock of the football league. We found out about a leak and an employee of Crystal Palace actively trying to find out our squad and more details, we rightly reported it to the FA. Why shouldn't we? Then the media puts its anti-Cardiff spin on it and now we're the bad guys etc.

I wouldn't believe a thing I read in the media about Cardiff City and this season.

There is so much bullshit in the media when it comes to our club that I've come to the conclusion that they're printing blatent lies just to make us the laughing stock of the football league. We found out about a leak and an employee of Crystal Palace actively trying to find out our squad and more details, we rightly reported it to the FA. Why shouldn't we? Then the media puts its anti-Cardiff spin on it and now we're the bad guys etc.

I wouldn't believe a thing I read in the media about Cardiff City and this season.

Fully agee the media have it against Tan and the club and will twist anything to put us in bad light.

The club have done the correct thing reporting the leak

Tan is a runny headline maker. The press would be gutted for him to leave, as much as they say they are with the fans.

Gunners is not involved (or it has never been mentioned to me that he was) but Enda Barron is the one who ultimately sent the eleven to Moody who then accidentally passed it onto Freedman and not Pulis.

Gunners is not involved (or it has never been mentioned to me that he was) but Enda Barron is the one who ultimately sent the eleven to Moody who then accidentally passed it onto Freedman and not Pulis.

I can't believe how incompetent Moody is

Gunners is not involved (or it has never been mentioned to me that he was) but Enda Barron is the one who ultimately sent the eleven to Moody who then accidentally passed it onto Freedman and not Pulis.

Did he think Freedman was still the manager of Palace?

Tan is a runny headline maker. The press would be gutted for him to leave, as much as they say they are with the fans.

I've heard Tan called lots of things, but never that!

Following on from the additional Palacegate allegations recently, both manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and goalkeeper David Marshall, have spoken out in support of midfielder Aron Gunnarsson after he was dragged into things.

Speaking to the Official Site Ole dismissed the allegations levied towards the midfielder, saying.

'We, as a club, will defend Aron's name and reputation to the hilt. I have complete faith in Aron as a player and as a man, as does the rest of the squad and staff. Unfounded speculation regarding Aron's loyalty or commitment ends here, with focus returning to the important matters in hand on the field.'

Ole goes on to say that Gunnarsson will be involved in the squad for the game against Stoke, and he will continue to play his part in helping us to avoid relegation.

David Marshall himself said.

'Aron would never do anything to hurt this football club or squad, it's not the way he is and I know him well. He's one of the most honest and hard working people I've ever met in football and the whole dressing room backs and trusts him 100%.'

Marshall goes on to say that he would 'put my life on Aron's integrity' and he says that the whole issue so far has just helped unite the dressing room even further.

Read more: http://www.cardiff.vitalfootball.co.uk/ ... z2zHEBSoJh

There is so much bullshit in the media when it comes to our club that I've come to the conclusion that they're printing blatent lies just to make us the laughing stock of the football league. We found out about a leak and an employee of Crystal Palace actively trying to find out our squad and more details, we rightly reported it to the FA. Why shouldn't we? Then the media puts its anti-Cardiff spin on it and now we're the bad guys etc.

I wouldn't believe a thing I read in the media about Cardiff City and this season.

I agree. If another club reported something like this the reactions would have been different.

I never thought it was Gunnar, he just isn't the guy to do that somehow.