Taarabt and Redknapp Continue War of Words over 'Three Stone Overweight' Remark

Adel Taarabt has laughed off criticism from Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp that he is three-stone overweight by posing for photographs and sitting down for an interview with the Daily Mail. 

After QPR's 3-2 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday, Redknapp was asked why he was not selecting the Moroccan playmaker. 

Redknapp said on Sunday: 

"

I can't protect people who don't want to run and train, and are about three stone overweight. 

Taarabt is not injured. He's not fit. He's not fit to play football unfortunately.

He played in a reserve game the other day and I could have run about more than he did. I can't pick him.

What am I supposed to keep saying? Keep getting your £60,000, £70,000 a week and don't train? What's the game coming to?

"

Taarabt hit back at the comments, though, in his interview with the Mail. 

"

I don’t like the food at the training ground, but eat healthily like every other player. Simple.

My heaviest weight at Milan was 86kg (13st 8lb), my lightest 84kg - now I’m 85kg. It’s not true to say I’m not fit. He tried to give an excuse.

"

Taarabt also defended his performance in the reserve game cited by Redknapp. 

"

I am a professional - this is not about retaliation, this is about protecting my reputation. I played in that reserve game for 90 minutes and if he didn’t think I was running he could have taken me off. Maybe I didn’t perform like I could because it was a reserve team game and I was protecting myself.

Just because we are losing games I am not going to kick the ball in the stands. My job is to create, bring goals to the team. Maybe he expects me to make more tackles. I am not this type of player. I can only get fitness playing Premier League. You can train six or seven hours, but you won’t be fit.

"

"

Taraabt v Redknapp round 2 - and now the shirts are off. Brilliant Interview by @neilashton_ - http://t.co/v1JQDyxyBh pic.twitter.com/cS5sfFud5m

— Mike Anstead (@mike_anstead) October 21, 2014"

Update: 13:30

Redknapp has again come back at Taraabt and said that the only reason he has lost weight is: "because he has had tonsillitis."

The QPR manager told the Sun, as per the Evening Standard.

"

Even I could suck my stomach in for a picture and look ok

The only reason he has lost weight is because he has had tonsillitis. That’s the only way we could get any weight off him.

The fitness coaches at QPR, everybody tells me he doesn’t try. He doesn’t want to run around.

I have tried to protect him until now but the fans have to know what’s going on. 

"

Update: 17:10

QPR President Tony Fernandes has spoken out and condemned both Redknapp and Taarabt for the brewing row. 

[Daily Mail]