Tue Jul 8 14:38:07 2008

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Arsenal's Hleb downplays rift with coach, teammate

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London, England (Sports Network) - Arsenal midfielder Alex Hleb insists he has no problems with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger or teammate Cesc Fabregas despite quotes attributed to the Belarus international criticizing the two men.

Hleb, who has been linked with Inter Milan, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid this summer, now believes he will eventually sign for Barcelona, after saying that "in life, everything changes."

"I am very grateful to Arsene Wenger," he said. "He is the best coach of my career and not just a coach. He is a very good man and intuitive psychologist. I very much appreciate his support.

"I talked to him twice before the end of the season (about my future). It is also not that easy for me to leave this club, because it has become my home. I think he is upset, though it is better to ask him, maybe he is glad.

"I believe that there are ten top clubs in world football and, when a couple of clubs are interested in you and offer better terms, I believe that others would have done exactly the same.

"But Arsenal is dear to me. I am grateful to Wenger for everything he has done for me. As an Arsenal player, I can say that there is no better club in the English Premiership.

"Cesc and I understand each other very well on the field. And it is very, very pleasurable for me to play with him.

"He's a very pleasant guy both in life and as a footballer. He is just more egoistic in goalscoring opportunities. If he had a chance to score, he always used it, unlike me."

Hleb had earlier been quoted in The Sun as saying: "My view of how I should be playing didn't coincide with the manager's.

"I told him last season I wanted to leave and think he was quite upset about it. But ask him. It may turn out he's happy to see me go.

"When we get scoring opportunities, Fabregas is much more selfish than me. Given a chance to shoot, he always goes for it - unlike me."

(Courtesy of sportbox.tv)