Playing a 3-4-2-1 during the first game of the season against Everton, Mark Hughes decided to use striker Mame Biram Diouf at wing-back.
Not exactly skilled in the defensive department, the 29-year-old performed as best he could, but he wasn’t exactly delighted about it.
In fact, Diouf isn’t entirely happy with how he’s being used at Stoke in general, which is primarily down the right-hand side, as he told Senepeople in his home country.
He said: “They tricked me! What can I do about it? They trapped me because I originally played there to help out when we needed someone to help out due to lack of options. I did it, and after that I’m not sure what happened. You’ll have to ask the manager.”
Refusing to be compared to Victor Moses, Mame Biram Diouf admitted he’ll have to make do with the situation, even if it’s not what he wants, because ‘it’s football and I like to play football’.
While doing what is needed to help the team is commendable, his national team manager, Aliou Cissé, addressed his striker’s problems in a press conference relayed by Senego, urging the Stoke forward to find a new club if he isn’t happy.
He said: “He’s not forced to stay at Stoke. I think there comes a time when you need to take your own responsibilities. Players need to, at some stage, decide what they want at club level.
“It’s easy to say I’m not happy and stay. No, I think that if you’re not happy, you leave, otherwise don’t say anything and do what the manager tells you to do.”
The ball is in your court, Mr Diouf.
