Earlier this week, some controversial comments emerged from Allan Saint-Maximin’s interview with French Magazine So Foot.
One line read –“The day I get a team-mate who is able to convert the chances I create, I will have 10-15 successful assists every season.“
Eddie Howe has now addressed these comments, insisting a “concerned” Saint-Maximin has apologised and stressed that they were taken out of context and in no way meant as a dig towards his teammates – something ASM himself has also stressed in a tweet released in the last few minutes.
The NUFC boss has accepted this and confirmed the player won’t be fined, however he’s revealed that the team will meet to clear up the situation and ensure there’s no “fallout” from what said.
Here’s Saint-Maximin’s public apology on social media, followed by what Howe had to say about it all when speaking to the press this morning:
“I saw the quotes and spoke with Allan.
“I think I need to make this clear that Allan’s quotes didn’t come across in the way he meant them to.
“You’ll probably need to ask him what he meant, but I don’t think it was a criticism of his teammates.
“He was concerned yesterday. We spoke, and in no way did he mean to damage the team and the unity that we’ve built.
“I accepted [his apology] and was happy with his explanation.
“Of course, he said things in an interview, but, as I said, it wasn’t in the context that he meant, although it happened.
“We will be speaking with the squad, and making sure there’s no fallout from that, because unity has been our strength It’s vitally important that we keep that at all costs.”
Howe then continued, saying he prefers for players to focus on themselves and their own club – not compare to others as ASM did with Liverpool’s Sadio Mane:
“Ideally I would not want any of my players speaking about anything other than themselves and their own careers.
“I don’t think players need to talk about other players or players from other clubs. It is all about our club.
“It is about protecting the team and everything we do: giving off united and positive messages even in difficult moments, and that can be tough. But that is my ideal and what I want my team to do.
“I have no concerns over his mood. I don’t think I will be fining him about that situation, it is more a case of education and making sure players know what we expect of them.”
