Carson: ‘We just thought a fan had come in to try to see us in training’
SCOTT Carson says it is “hard to believe” that Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa sent someone to spy on Derby County,
Police were called to the Rams’ training ground on Thursday following reports of a man acting suspiciously.
He turned out to be working for Leeds ahead of Friday night’s Championship showdown between the teams at Elland Road.
Bielsa has taken full responsibility for the incident but does not feel he has done anything wrong.
Derby boss Frank Lampard was not happy with his opposite number’s explanation and the same goes for Carson.
“I think it’s a bit of a liberty,” said the Rams goalkeeper. “This is England and I don’t think other teams and other managers here do that sort of stuff.
“It was hard to believe, really. It’s not something I’ve seen before.
“It was a little bit disrespectful. That’s what we made of it.”
Explaining how the whole thing unfolded, Carson said: “The police just came on to the field and said there was someone in the bushes. “They went back out and around again. Then we heard a bit of shouting but nobody knew what it was.
“I think the last thing we expected was it to be a Leeds United employee.
“We just thought a fan had come in and wanted to try to see training.
“Obviously, we all stopped for a couple of minutes but that was about it.
“Like I said, we didn’t know what it was and who it was.
“If we had known that at the time, it would probably have halted things a bit more than it did.” Leeds went on to beat Derby 2-0 but Carson was not using “spygate” as an Scott Carson
excuse.
“I’m not sure what he could have got from what he saw but it’s no excuse for this result,” he said.
“It’s obviously something they’ve been doing all season and it’s obviously working.
“But I don’t think it had too much effect on the game.” DERBY County boss Frank Lampard says something has to be done in the wake of the ‘spy’ saga.
The Football Association is investigating following a bizarre build-up to the Championship clash between Leeds United and Derby.
Derby had to halt their final preparations on Thursday when police were called to their Moor Farm training ground following reports of a man “acting suspiciously” outside the premises.
The Rams issued a statement saying that the individual was working for Leeds and Marcelo Bielsa, Leeds’ head coach, admitted he did send somebody to watch Derby training.
Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani has formally apologised to Derby’s owner and chairman Mel Morris.
A Leeds club statement read: “Following comments made by Marcelo Bielsa yesterday (Friday) the club will look to work with our head coach and his staff to remind them of the integrity and honesty which are the foundations that Leeds United is built on.
“Our owner, Andrea Radrizzani, has met with Derby County’s owner Mel Morris to formally apologise for Marcelo’s actions.
“We will make no further comment on this matter.”
Asked what he wanted to see happen, Lampard said: “It is not for me to say what happens, I don’t know what the rules are.
“I believe there is not an absolute clear-cut rule about it but we can’t open the door to this thing happening every week.
“What kind of farce would that be if everybody sent undercover people, drones, whatever into training. It would be farcical.
“Something has to be done but I don’t know what it is and it is not my decision.”
Former Derby striker Darren Bent admits he “can’t quite understand” why Bielsa sent a member of his staff to spy on Rams’ training.
“One thing I can’t quite understand is how much more can you get from watching Derby County [in training] that he’s not seen already all season?” Bent asked on Sky Sports.
“He (Bielsa) has played them once already, beat them comfortably. So I’m not sure what he’s looking to get from a training session one day before they play as opposition. I just can’t get it and I don’t think the rewards are worth the criticism he’s going to take.
“Now we’re talking about someone potentially cheating - because that’s what it is, really.
“You can’t really disguise that: it is cheating. That’s what he’s tried to do, to get an edge, and it needs to stop.”
The police just came on to the field and said there was someone in the bushes.