Fulham striker Hugo Rodallega has accused Rene Meulensteen of showing him a “lack of respect” and stated the manager’s decision to substitute him in Fulham’s FA Cup defeat to Sheffield United left him broken hearted.
The 28-year-old was visibly upset when hauled off after just 59 minutes as Fulham crashed out of the Cup with a 1-0 loss, and he made his unhappiness even clearer when interviewed on TV station Win Sport in his native Colombia.
Rodallega is understood to be angling for a move to Everton in the summer, to link up with his former Wigan manager Roberto Martinez. While the Colombia forward enjoyed an excellent relationship with the Spaniard, that does not seem the case with Meulensteen.
“I have never experienced what happened [on Tuesday] and it is something that keeps me awake at night,” Rodallega said. “I love this sport and I always want to do things right and keep my starting place. I have had a clean career, without trouble or disciplinary problems. What happened [in being seen to cry] was rage, frustration and the desire to keep playing. It was a lack of respect on the part of the coach. They always tend keep the front players on, whatever happens, and I feel he went too far. I didn’t play a good pass and was taken off only minutes after the second half started. That broke my heart.”
