Tamudo hits out at critics

Raul Tamudo has denied allegations that he is a powerful force at Espanyol.

The former Spain international striker has been accused of forming a clique within the dressing room at Montjuic, along with Ivan De la Pena, but he has refuted the claims.

Critics have stated that Espanyol will not progress while he remains at the club where he has played for 14 years.

"If a football player is the main problem at a club then he should give up there and then," Tamudo explained.

"Independently of whether I play or not, I am the happiest one here if we win and the most upset if we lose.

"I have been at Espanyol since 1992, I am a member and a shareholder.

"I am not bad for Espanyol, I am just a player.

"When things go badly people crawl out from underneath rocks just to criticise.

"After all these years I have become immune to it and what is said in the media does not affect me."

De la Pena is a vital member of the Espanyol side, but accusations have been made that the former Barcelona man also enjoys too much control at the club.

"He has fitted in very well here and the things that have been said have hurt him," said Tamudo. "It is a shame that nobody has said anything in defence of the players."

Last week, Luis Garcia told the media that he was unfit in a veiled attack on the coaching staff at the club.

Team boss Ernesto Valverde responded by stating that he was not concerned by what the player said, as to why he had the confidence to come out with it.

The insinuation was that the powerful group of players would protect Garcia from any club criticism of his outburst, but Tamudo flatly rejects the idea.

"I told him (Luis García) what I thought and think that what he said did not help anyone because you have to think before you speak out, although he should not be made an outcast," Tamudo said.

"We are all working to turn this situation around and I would be the first to come out and say that the atmosphere here is not good.

"These rumours are bad for the team and they come from people who want to manipulate things, I do not know why they do it."

Espanyol have won just one of their five league matches this season, but have progressed to the Uefa Cup group stage after beating Artmedia Bratislava in the first round.