Diouf/De Zeeuw 'Spat' In The Past

Last updated : 30 September 2005 By Matt Bottom
Bolton Wanderers striker El Hadji Diouf says his spit shame with Wigan defender Arjan de Zeeuw belongs in the past.

Diouf said: "From my point of view, what happened against De Zeeuw last year is forgotten.

"When we play against each other in the Premiership this weekend, it won't be on my mind.

"The justice was handed out. I paid the fine and served my three-match ban.

"But when we played at Portsmouth last season and I came up against De Zeeuw he said hello to everyone - but not to me.

"I was upset that he didn't say hello but I made my reply by scoring a goal. That is how I try to react if I feel angry about something.

"I am a bad loser - I hate not winning. So sometimes I can lose my head a bit when the team is not doing well.

"It happened with De Zeeuw but that only served as a lesson. Yet the fire is still there.

"If you take certain things away from my game you wouldn't have the same footballer.

"Maybe my temper is more under control now - which is a good thing. But if you took away that desire and will to win, you would take away my strengths as a player."

Diouf added: "I think it's tougher for a foreign player here."