NETHERLANDS COACH DANNY BLIND his dismissed suggestions Robin van Persie was benched for the Euro 2016 qualification win over Kazakhstan on Saturday due to a row with Memphis Depay.
Reports suggested the Fenerbahce striker was involved in an incident with the Manchester United winger ahead of the game and alleged he was left out of the starting XI as a consequence.
Blind though has downplayed the significance of the row between the attackers, insisting Van Persie started from the bench due to a lack of fitness.
“We have discussed what happened, but that had nothing to do with my decision,” Blind told a press conference ahead of the final qualifier against Czech Republic on Tuesday.
“I felt that he was not fit enough to start. I think that’s down to the fact that he has not played without pain for quite a while. He is pain-free now and feels 100 per cent. But I want him to be fit enough to play the full 90 minutes. That’s why I did not play him as support striker against Kazakhstan.
“He is fit enough for the match against Czech Republic, but I will have to make choices.”
Van Persie came off the bench in the closing stages of the 2-1 win over Kazakhstan to earn his 100th cap, with some pundits suggesting his substitute cameo was a farewell gesture as Blind prepares to jettison the Fenerbahce forward.
“That is absolute nonsense,” the head coach said.
“We had agreed that I would get him on if we needed a goal, but I also thought it was only logical to give him his 100th cap because the game was already decided.
“I had to wait for my third substitution for a bit, though. I talked about that with Robin and he understood me. I find it baffling that people don’t get that.”
This stinks…Guarantee that Aldo is not fighting..Fans been strung along like fools
Honestly I wouldn’t be that upset if it was Mendes , if Aldo can’t make it , it’s still very very interesting so long as the replacement is Mendes or Edgar , he’s finally going up against someone in the top 3 that people keep saying he is never going to beat. People would be strung along if it was Nate Diaz or something.
I think he should have been fighting Mendes anyway
If it is Mendez it will silence people who say McGregor didn’t fight either Mendez or Edgar. Everyone wants to see the Aldo fight but at least we know there is a reputable contingency available.
It’s nothing to do with the UFC if Aldo fights it’s up to the Nevada state athletic commission whether he is cleared to fight or not.
interim title? for a rib injury?
That’s what I’ve been thinking. Early reports said he’d fight in October (at the earliest) that hardly warrants an interim title fight.
If the fight was pulled, Connor would be mad to fight anyone before aldo.
It’s been a long time to this point since Aldo has fought, if it drags on until October or later then an interim belt is surely warranted, especially in such a stacked division
He would be mad to but I also think the Mendes fight is the one that should have been booked in the first place.
It’s only been 9 months!!!!
And with this injury it goes over a year, it’s not a crazy length but it may just about justify the interim belt. I’m sure it has a lot to with keeping silverware up for grabs as it’s headlining over a genuine title bout
So now he has to prepare for 2 different fighters while the other 2 prepare solely for Connor.
read the article Tom.
Velasquez needed surgery after already being out for a year before they made an interim bout. Seems a bit harsh on Aldo.
Finally some clarity. Its been like sitting in an STI clinic for the past 2 days waiting on results
I have a suspicion that he is out though. And Mendes is in. But they don’t want to make it public in case a load of Irish fans, 35% of the ticket holders apparently, don’t go.
But once we get a title fight I don’t care! :)
“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” – Conor McGregor
I think you may want to check your sources there
@kevin I sincerely hope you’re being ironic.
“The trouble with quotes on the Internet is that you can never know if they are genuine.” –Abraham Lincoln
“You shall not pass” – connor mcgregor.
“I’LL GIVE A SWIFT KICK IN THE GEE TO SORT HIM OUT”……Conor McGregor
Abraham Lincoln was wise for his era
“Eat, sleep, rave, repeat”
-Mahatma Gandhi.
“Kick her in the fanny Kelly” – Mother Theresa.
“Get Rich or Die Tryin’” – Michael D Higgins.
“KY is your friend” – Supergran
”50 bags on tik till Thursday boyiz”
- Robert Marley
@ supergran ky jelly is your friend
Stephen I get the feeling you’re older than myself from your reply.
lol @gunner !! “you have a new opponnent” “mkay”
those were probably the only words he spoke that day
Why was aldo having gym wars so close to the fight?
because he’s training for a fight.
You’re not supposed to do heavy sparring so close to a fight.
Who said it was heavy. His partner slipped on the mat and hit him in the wrong spot
How is a body shot the wrong spot?
I think the world champions training camp may be just a tiny bit less clueless than you think. They may just know a thing or two about what they’re doing.
Actually Aldo has a history of being injured in training camps, more than any other fighter in the UFC so maybe he is a bit clueless.
So did he fail the drug test ?
Frankie Edgar should have got the call
wouldnt fancy hvng big money on aldo
pure rubbish if Aldo isn’t fit leave the fight until he is 100% no excuses. This way it all looks like a money making racket and i doubt mcgregor wants to fight anyone that isn’t 100% fit. Cancel the whole event
Aine fighters fight with undisclosed injuries all the time. Anderson Silva defended his title against Chael Sonnen with a fractured rib before. Tito Ortiz has fought through ebola a few times. Aldo has a bruised rib. It will be painful but unless its broken he will be ok.
That’s easy enough to say if you’ve not spent 1000s on flights , hotels and tickets……
It’s Aldos decision, I’ve feels he is OK then fair enough once he passes a medical.
Probably sound really stupid but how can it still be a title fight if its McGregor and Mendes?
They would more than likely set up an interim title, while Aldo is injured. Say if mcgregor fought mendez, than the winner of that would fight aldi for the proper title .
Ridiculous, who he will fight at the weigh in. Aldo should get the go ahead from Nevada in advance! We want Conor to fight Aldo now! There is no replacement. Connor will destoy the midget with his boxing and leg kicks , his reach. Conor should fight mended and favor together
He has a bruised rib by the time the fight comes around which is over two weeks he will be fine. He should have all his prep done so now he just needs to make weight. Its mma id say 90% of fighters go into a fight carrying an injury.
It’s great to get the experts views in the comments, someone should tell aldo that he doesn’t know how to prepare for a fight, or that Dana could run the UfC way better….
Good luck JK against whoever you get matched up to, an interim title would be a massive achievement in itself and the big prize will come in time.
I hope this isn’t the UFC pull a fast one. Keep McGreggor on the card, have to other SBG fighters on the card to keep Irish people buying tickets and flights then pull McGreggor the day before