Venables blames Berbatov

Striker blasted by former Spurs chief

Last updated: 30th September 2008

Venables blames Berbatov

Venables: Scathing attack on Berbatov

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Former Tottenham manager Terry Venables has laid the blame for the club's poor start to the season squarely at Dimitar Berbatov's door.

Venables claims the Bulgarian's 'poisonous presence' at the beginning of the campaign has unsettled the whole squad.

Berbatov started the season at White Hart Lane but made clear his desire to realise a 'dream' move to current club Manchester United.

Speculation over Berbatov's future dominated Spurs' early matches as manager Juande Ramos wrestled with whether or not to select the striker, who eventually signed for the Red Devils in a £30million deal on transfer deadline day

Spurs are rooted to the bottom of the table after making their worst ever start to a Premier League season and Ramos is finding himself under increasing pressure.

But Venables, who last week turned down the chance to return to top-flight management with Newcastle, believes the club's current strife stems from Berbatov.

Blast

"Berbatov kept telling us he had 'a dream'. Well, good for you Dimi. You had a dream with a few extra noughts added to your bank balance," Venables told The Sun.

"But did Spurs have a dream too? You got your way but your poisonous presence at the start of the season - the brooding and the reluctance to play - has cost the club that believed in you."

Venables also believes the Spurs board made a mistake in selling Berbatov's strike partner Robbie Keane to Liverpool before they had a replacement.

Blunder
"They thought they were going to get Andrei Arshavin," added Venables.

"This was a massive managerial blunder by Spurs, especially when they had allowed Keane to leave. But letting Berbatov and Keane go without having Arshavin in the bag was a boardroom blunder."