Aaron Lennon insists he will not be made a 'scapegoat' for Tottenham's UEFA Champions League drubbing by Real Madrid.
Spurs winger unhappy over Real reports
Aaron Lennon insists he will not be made a 'scapegoat' for Tottenham's UEFA Champions League drubbing by Real Madrid.
The Spurs winger was forced to pull out of the starting XI just minutes before kick-off of the quarter-final first leg at Santiago Bernabeu due to illness.
That forced a last-second reshuffle from manager Harry Redknapp with Jermaine Jenas drafted into the midfield and given an on-field pre-match briefing by the coaching team in the seconds before the game got under way.
Jenas was marking Emmanuel Adebayor as Real took an early lead through the former Arsenal striker's header, with Peter Crouch's early dismissal then leaving the White Hart Lane club up against it.
Further goals from Adebayor, Angel Di Maria and Cristiano Ronaldo secured a 4-0 success for Jose Mourinho's side and Real already have one foot in the semi-finals ahead of next week's second leg at White Hart Lane.
Got worse
Lennon has been upset at suggestions his problem only came to light just before the game and insists the Spurs staff knew of his illness for several days and had prescribed antibiotics at the weekend.
Lennon wrote on his
Twitter feed: "Saying I fell ill before the game is bull****.
"I fell ill on Sunday morning where the med team put me on antibiotics, but only got worse before Tuesday.
"Believe me, this is one game I did not want to miss and still devo now!!!! But will not be made a scapegoat saying they only knew just before KO."
