Stoke City boss angry with Chelsea target Asmir Begovic
Stoke City boss Tony Pulis today revealed his anger at goalkeeper Asmir Begovic’s conduct, who had reportedly declined to play in the club’s 2-1 League Cup win over Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old, who moved to Stoke from Portsmouth in January, has been the focus of transfer speculation linking him with a move to English Premier League champions Chelsea over the last few weeks.
Pulis had claimed that it was the player’s decision not to feature in the match despite claims to the contrary by the goalkeeper. While the Potters manager is livid at Begovic’s conduct, he said the player’s behaviour was out of character and was fairly commonplace in modern-day football.
'Disappointed' in goalkeeper
He told reporters that: "I had a good meeting with (Stoke chairman) Peter (Coates) yesterday and we'll deal with (the matter) internally. I'm disappointed that the kid has come out now and said that it wasn't him who decided he wasn't going to play. I think that is desperately disappointing and I will speak to him about that."
Hinting that it might not have been the sole decision of Begovic not to play in the match, Pulis added that he was disappointed in the Bosnia international who had been the perfect professional since moving to the Britannia Stadium.
'Good kid'
He said that: "He's a good kid and he has been smashing ever since he joined this club, but something has turned his head. It's not all to do with the kid — there are people behind the scenes who have to take responsibility as well for what has gone on. It is the not the first time it has happened and it will not be the last. It is just a disease which has grown and grown and grown."
Pulis also said that Stoke would not find themselves in a situation where they would be "pushed or bullied" into selling players.
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