NYRB’s Rodgers: We are not complaining about Beckham tackle

The war of words between New York Red Bulls and LA Galaxy has carried on right through the week with striker Luke Rodgers hitting back at the Los Angeles club.

At the final whistle of the weekend’s Conference semi-final first leg at Red Bull Arena (which the Galaxy won 1-0), a fracas ensued after Red Bulls defender Rafael Marquez threw the ball at an unsuspecting Landon Donovan.

Since the incident, plenty of words have been bandied around, particularly from Donovan who branded the Red Bulls as a ‘cheap team’.

But Rodgers has defended his team, saying the Galaxy were just as bad on the night.

“In my eyes, people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. A lot of their players were doing the same thing,” the former Notts County man said.

“One of our players has a big gash in his leg from Beckham’s tackle, but no one’s complaining about it on our side.

“No one's moaning here. I don't understand why everyone's complaining. I personally just think it's part of the game.

“I don't think anyone expects two big teams with players that really want to win just have it be a really pretty game and shake hands after the game.

“Certain things will get said. In my eyes, it's part of football.”

He added: “We’re not a cheap team. We’ve already beat LA once.

“If calling a team cheap is the will to win, and tackling and putting everything into winning the game, then I don’t call it a cheap team: I call it a winning team.”

The second leg of the semi-final takes place at The Home Depot Center on Thursday night.

 
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