Chelsea's Marcel Desailly has hit back at David O'Leary after the Leeds manager made light of the decision by five of his team-mates to withdraw from the Uefa Cup trip to Hapoel Tel Aviv last week.
The France international says he was unhappy at the lack of respect shown towards the players who made a personal decision – after being given the choice by club officials – not to travel to Israel.
"I find it shocking enough to note that some people were laughing about this problem, that people treated it light- heartedly," the player said on his website.
Desailly also denied that the injury that kept him out of the 2-0 defeat in Israel was simply a smoke screen to cover up for his own fears about making the trip.
"I did not take part in the match against Leeds on Sunday," Desailly added. "More proof, if it were needed, that my injury was by no means diplomatic."
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