Anelka unrepentant over France

The Manchester City star slammed French coach Jacques Santini last month and said that he would need to 'get on his knees and beg him' before he played for France again.

Now in an interview for France Football, he explained that he still feels the same way.

"I don't regret anything I have done," he said.

"I am living without the French team, they never offered me a helping hand when I had trouble at my club.

"I will succeed all alone, it is written in my mind - I don't miss the French team environment and today I don't need the French team.

"Being in Blue could not bring me anything, except more worry. I loved and I love to play in the French team.

"I appreciated the two goals at Wembley [in 2-0 win over England in February 1999], Euro 2000, and playing with Zizou [Zinedine Zidane] and the other players representing my country."

Anelka admitted that he is likely to play for France again, but it may be years before he does.

"I will never forget, it is like a dream," he continued .

"But now Les Bleus are not in my planning anymore for the coming weeks, months and perhaps years! I have already accepted the idea of never playing in a World Cup for a long time."

On Santini, Anelka - dubbed 'The Eternal Malcontent' in his homeland - continued: "I don't know him.

"We met five minutes after a match and I was not convinced by his explanations.

"Moreover he really doesn't know me as he asked me for excuses. But excuses for what? I can't understand. I don't say he is a bad coach, on the contrary. Actually I don't know.

"Me, I don't need Les Bleus anymore, as I consider myself ten times better than when I was at Arsenal.

"To be clear I think the French team is a false kingdom. Not with the players, but around, the environment.

"In those conditions it is better to stop. When I feel it is fake, I can't invest 100 percent and I can't give my best.

"I don't kiss and smile to everyone, I come to Les Bleus to play, you don't have to ask more.

"I also feel they attack my entourage, but I am playing, not my entourage, as for taking the decisions - I will tell you, my brothers are the best managers in the world.

"I had a lot of support from players who called me and told me I was right to act that way."

Anelka admitted that City manager Kevin Keegan wanted him to play for France.

"On the French team, he told me I should not refuse the national team, that it is not the tradition," he said.

"But he respected my decision and noticed I feel better without the French team than with.

"Keegan is cool, he is open to talk and won't become mad for being one minute late.

"It helps to have a pleasant atmosphere, I love his state of mind and at the club everyone loves him.

"Since I am at City, I have fun during training sessions. At Paris it was different, there was no work. I have to say with Luis Fernandez I really met a character! I don't know anyone who has never had trouble with him. By leaving Paris for Liverpool I was reassured: I was not the origin of the problem."

The former Arsenal ace admitted that he wanted to get back into the Champions League.

"I would really love to play again in the Champions League - I miss it," he opined.

"I am motivated with the great matches and I hope with Manchester City we will finish in a better place than last year and I will score more goals.

"I don't know whether this is possible with City, anyway I have a contract and I feel well here.

"I am fine and the relationship with the coach is perfect, exactly as with the fans. We will see in time."

He admitted his short time at Liverpool was helpful to his career.

"The experience was useful," he said.

"Playing beside a Balon d'Or [Michael Owen] allowed me to evaluate my level. I would have liked to stay, but it didn't work.

"I think Gerard Houiller was a little afraid by me considering the past at the Under-20 World Cup when he accused me and Thierry Henry to be responsible for the defeat against Brazil. Houiller remains Houiller."

His one regret from his career is his time with Real.

"Real is a little regret," he added.

"Real Madrid is the best club in the world, with the best players.

"It is very difficult to play in this team, with the environment and the competition.

"I really wanted to succeed at Real, but it didn't work.

"I was young, I made mistakes, even if they didn't help me.

"I loved life there [Spain] and I want to go and live there one day.

"When I return, I feel people didn't forget me, they remember Champions League and my goals in the semi-final against Bayern [Munich]."