04.09.2014 21:37 h

Marseille coach Bielsa slams club transfer deals

Marseille coach Marcelo Bielsa hit out at club president Vincent Labrune on Thursday, accusing him of failing to keep the promises he made when he persuaded the the Argentine to join the club.

In an extraordinary outburst, Bielsa was highly critical of Leburne's dealings in the transfer window, claiming he was frozen out of the decision-making process and expressing his disgust and disappointment at how the transfers were handled.

"The time for building a team has just closed and the result is negative," Bielsa told a press conference.

"There was a gulf between what was expected and what actually happened. I think the president made promises to me that he knew he had no intention of keeping."

He added: "In fact, all I want is that people tell me the truth. If he had done so at the start, perhaps I could have accepted it, but to find out later, that disgusts me."

Admitting he was more or less happy with the squad now at his disposal all the same, Bielsa said he had not been involved in any of the decisions concerning the players who were bought and sold.

"I only learned about the sale of (Lucas) Mendes the day he failed to turn up for training because he was on his way to Qatar.

"And I only learned we had bought (Brazilian defender) Doria on Monday afternoon when he turned up for a medical."

"None of the players who have joined Marseille did so on my initiative. I suggested 12 possible options but not one of them has been bought."

Among those he wanted to bring in were Benjamin Stambouli, who finally left Montpellier for Tottenham, and Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld, who ended up at Southampton on loan from Atletico Madrid, he said.

"I came here with a plan, but the reality is quite different. Faced with that, I have two things to say: firstly I am optimistic I can do a job here ... secondly, I am disappointed with the way this has been handled."

Labrune, speaking to local newspaper La Provence while on holiday, said he would hold talks with the coach on his return to Marseille, but added: "I am very surprised, to say the least. We built the squad, taking into account Marcelo's blueprint as much as possible."