Charlton Athletic's Kelly Youga on no-nonsense tackling, his reputation with referees and why he's confident about beating the Hornets at the Valley.
'I came off at half-time against Sheffield Wednesday during the week. I never like being substituted but the gaffer took me off to preserve me and he did the right thing. I'd already picked up a red card and he didn`t want me to be sent off.
'The thing is, one of their players was really trying to wind me up. He knew about my character so he was playing on this to get me booked. I was playing the ball every time, but he was constantly elbowing me and all that sort of stuff, and it was all off the ball.
'Luckily, the suspension doesn`t start for seven days, so it skips the Watford game this Saturday. We really need to win at The Valley. If we don`t they will be ten points clear of us and I am very happy to play in this game. It's going to be a good game on a good pitch, because when we played them at Vicarage Road it was a very poor pitch, very bad weather and a slow game. I didn`t play well in that game and I need to get my revenge!'
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Straight talker
Ready to get my revenge against Watford
I came off at half-time against Sheffield Wednesday during the week. I never like being substituted but the gaffer took me off to preserve me and he did the right thing. I'd already picked up a red card and he didn’t want me to be sent off.
The thing is, one of their players was really trying to wind me up. He knew about my character so he was playing on this to get me booked. I was playing the ball every time, but he was constantly elbowing me and all that sort of stuff, and it was all off the ball.
I am a defender – if I'd wanted to I could have hurt him so many times, but I don’t do that. I'm not that sort of player. He knew I was too good for him maybe. As I say, he knew about me and he knew that if I got crazy I might do a silly thing.
If there is a better player than me on the pitch the last thing I want to do is go and kick him. I will just play football and let that do the talking. That’s fine, I respect good players and you just have to make sure that next time you will do better.
But in this league you have got so many snakes. Some players, if they can't get past you they are going to play dirty. Hopefully I controlled myself though and that was a good thing for me. It wouldn’t have been good if I had been sent off.
The yellow card means I miss the Blackpool game on the 23rd February. It is my third suspension of the season! I do feel like I am being targeted sometimes. I am not a bad boy you know. But referees are making my reputation like this. But it is not the case.
When I play I play with determination – I go onto the pitch and there is nobody going to get past me. I think that I am the best, and that I won't allow anyone past and won't allow any crosses on my side of the pitch. I am going to give everything.
For the refs, when you play like this, they think that you want to kill other players but that’s not it. It's just very physical. I am not nasty. I am sharp, quick and naturally strong, so it is hard to move me. If I go shoulder to shoulder with someone I will never be the first one to fall down. I show determination and that’s what you need.
Luckily, the suspension doesn’t start for seven days, so it skips the Watford game this Saturday. We really need to win at The Valley. If we don’t they will be ten points clear of us and I am very happy to play in this game. It's going to be a good game on a good pitch, because when we played them at Vicarage Road it was a very poor pitch, very bad weather and a slow game. I didn’t play well in that game and I need to get my revenge!
It will help having the home fans behind us as well. The Charlton fans are excellent. I am starting to feel them warming to me now that I am showing what I can do. That’s what the players want and it's what they need.
I am confident we will beat Watford and it will be a good game. They are the team to beat at the moment. We are well prepared though and I think we will win. I hope so.
Ha ha ha ha:
"I am a defender – if I'd wanted to I could have hurt him so many times, but I don’t do that. I'm not that sort of player. He knew I was too good for him maybe."
and ha ha ha ha:
"But in this league you have got so many snakes."
and ha ha ha ha:
"For the refs, when you play like this, they think that you want to kill other players but that’s not it."
we need this guy on a ten year deal minimum
Brilliant idea. I'm in! lol