Emmanuel Adebayor: Tottenham showed 'disrespect' by leaving me out of the official team photo

Togo striker had been marginalised by former manager Andre Villas-Boas

James Orr
Monday 23 December 2013 06:34 EST
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Emmanuel Adebayor celebrates his second goal against Southampton on Sunday
Emmanuel Adebayor celebrates his second goal against Southampton on Sunday (REUTERS)

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Emmanuel Adebayor says it is his ‘glory time’ at Tottenham now he is back in the starting XI and scoring goals for fun, but has accused the club of disrespecting him in a period which reached its zenith when he was left out of the club’s official squad photograph.

The Togo striker began the season at odds with former manager Andre Villas-Boas, and was forced to train with the reserve team and on his own as he was left out of the squad, but has since flourished under interim manager Tim Sherwood in his two matches in charge, starting both games and scoring three goals, including a double in the 3-2 victory at Southampton on Sunday, in his first Premier League start of the season.

"It was difficult," said Adebayor. "When I come to train and see the team picture, which I'm not involved in, that shows me a lot of disrespect."

"I'm a professional footballer, I had to keep my head up and I did what they asked me to do," said the 29-year-old.

"They asked me to train with the reserves, which I did with pleasure, and they asked me to train on my own, which I did with pleasure.

"So now everything is paying off. I kept doing my thing and this is my glory time. I'm very happy.”

Adebayor's two goals on Sunday brought his Premier League tally to 85, a higher total than both Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo, who had both scored 84 goals in the division.

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