Crunch: Liverpool's Jamie Carragher clatters into
Nani during United's recent defeat at Anfield
Manchester
United winger
Nani has launched a furious attack on Jamie Carragher over the
tackle which left him with an ugly gash on his
leg.
Carragher sent an apology into the United dressing room
immediately after Liverpool's 3-1 win at Anfield on
March 6 and then waited to offer his personal remorse for a
challenge that forced Nani to be carried off on a stretcher. But
the Portugal star was having none of it.
He had not forgotten it was a previous Carragher challenge
on him that sparked an injury that eventually forced him to miss
two months of last term.
And even now, in the wake of a quicker-than-expected
comeback against Marseille in the Champions League last night, Nani
is livid.
'I don't know what Carragher was thinking but I do know
what he did was not football,' said Nani, speaking for the first
time about the challenge. 'He came to apologise after the game. But
I was not happy.
It is the second time he injured me. Before he put me out
of the game for two months. He always tackles like that.
'I don't want protection. I just want the referees to be
fair. If it is a red card, they have to give it. If they give the
card, the next time the player doesn't make the tackle.'
Although he took a rather theatrical fall after initially
getting to his feet to remonstrate with Carragher, once Nani saw
the wound that had opened, he was certain his season was at an
end.
Fears: Nani was concerned his season had been ended by
the challenge
It was that knowledge rather than the pain, which
caused the 24-year-old to burst into tears in a rather surprising
display of emotion.
'When I saw my leg for the first time, I thought my season
was finished,' he said. 'That is why I was crying.
'Afterwards, the doctor saw my leg and said I had been
lucky because it just needed stitches and I would be out for two or
three weeks. He is surprised that I could recover even
quicker.'
Nani has been the subject of speculation that he might be
looking to leave Old Trafford in the summer and the rough treatment
he receives on the pitch may be a factor in that.
Fellow countryman Cristiano Ronaldo was fond of
complaining flair players were often targeted in the Premier League
and Nani accepts the risk of injury is high.
'English football is like that. It is about making
tackles,' he said. 'The fans enjoy it. I played against Marseille
but maybe I couldn't play tomorrow because I have so many injuries.
I always finished the game sore because I have had three or four
tackles on the same part of my ankle.'
Speedy recovery: Nani was back in action on Tuesday
in the Champions League
Nani did show bravery to get himself back on the
field again so quickly, with even Sir Alex Ferguson claiming last
week it would probably be after the international break before the
former Sporting Lisbon star was in action
again.
Not that it was an especially good performance. Taken off
midway through the second period, Nani admitted he struggled to
cope. However, the run out may help him ahead of Saturday's Premier
League encounter with Bolton at Old Trafford.
'My leg is OK,' he said. 'It is not 100per cent and the
confidence is not the same. I know players always like to tackle me
so I have to be careful. That is why my football was not the best.
But it is great to be back. Now I am just thinking about the next
game when I think I will be much better.'
