Pires fires volley at France manager

Robert Pires has delivered a scathing attack on the France coach Raymond Domenech, commenting on their "turbulent" relationship and accusing him of "stressing out" his players.

Robert Pires has delivered a scathing attack on the France coach Raymond Domenech, commenting on their "turbulent" relationship and accusing him of "stressing out" his players.

In a move likely to put his international career in jeopardy, the Arsenal midfielder also compares Domenech unfavourably with his manager at Highbury, Arsène Wenger.

"In England I am lucky to have Arsène Wenger who knows me, who knows where to place me and the others with the best possible chance of success," Pires says in an interview published today by France Football.

"Between us there is a total confidence which does not exist elsewhere. With the national team, that is not the case yet."

The outburst has its roots in the 31-year-old's apparent marginalisation in the France squad under Domenech, who took charge of Les Bleus from Jacques Santini in July.

"He has shown a lack of respect toward me. Maybe he thinks he can get away with anything," Pires says.

"Should I apologise for having 13 years of experience behind me, for being part of the World Cup and European Championship winning teams?

"I still exist and Domenech has not taken that into consideration.

"Nothing leads me to believe he trusts me. I must be annoying him. It's like being at school. It's like I'm 20 years old and playing football for the first time."

Pires was recently substituted during France's 2-0 win over Cyprus in Nicosia and clearly did not appreciate it. The former Marseille player was so distraught he took refuge in an underground car park to collect his thoughts.

"I just sat there next to a security guard, who kindly offered me his stool. There was just the two of us," Pires says. "I started to make phone calls, sending text messages. After 15 minutes my mobile phone was blocked with replies. I phoned [my partner] Jess and let myself go. I was at the end of my tether. I was lost. If the Arsenal car had been there, I would have jumped in and waited for my team-mates on our private plane."

Relations between the pair have been tense since Domenech took over, following France's disappointing Euro 2004 showing. A former coach of the French Under-21 side, he is renowned as a disciplinarian and his methods have been termed crude by senior members of the French squad - notably Fabien Barthez, Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira.

Domenech has banned cell phones during massages, forced players to wear shin pads at training, and once ordered the team bus to leave without Pegguy Luyindula because the striker had overslept.

Pires worked happily with Domenech with the French youth team. He says: "I was with him for four years and I have good memories. But since, I assure you, I am disenchanted."

However, Pires ruled out following Zinedine Zidane and company into international retirement, making the content of his public outburst all the more surprising. He says: "I am absolutely not in the mood to do that. I still dream of playing for Les Bleus. I want to go right to the end with this team. I am patient and above all I believe in myself."

Pires is one of the few veterans of the 1998 World Cup-winning squad still involved with France - Lilian Thuram, Marcel Desailly, Bixente Lizarazu and Zidane all quit after Euro 2004 while Chelsea's Claude Makelele, not involved in the World Cup success, has also retired.