Former Arsenal attacker Robert Pires has revealed former Leeds United defenders Danny Mills and Rio Ferdinand used to give him a hard time during his clashes with them.
Speaking to FourFourTwo, Pires was asked whether it was unfair he was branded a diver by Mills.
The former France international said when he played in England he received a lot of harsh treatment, with Leeds United duo Mills and Ferdinand being the two standout players. Pires thinks this was all part of the game, and he soon learnt he needed to concentrate on just playing.
“I used to receive plenty of knocks from the likes of Mills – and Rio Ferdinand too – but you have to get on with it. It’s part of the game,” said the Arsenal legend.
Mills and Ferdinand were teammates at Ellan Road for two seasons during a successful period for the club. Both players were part of the Leeds United squad which reached the Champions League semi-finals in the early 2000s narrowly missing out on the final to Valencia.
However, with Leeds United’s financial problems and relegation from the Premier League both Mills and Ferdinand moved on to other clubs.
