MX23RW : Friday, November 8 19:49:21| >> :120:48010:48010:

Kean takes back "forfeit" comments

Steve Kean says that his "forfeit" comments spoken following Blackburn's exit from the Carling Cup on Tuesday were "taken out of context".

Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean has backtracked on his comments following their Carling Cup exit to Cardiff City.

The Scotsman appeared to suggest that the Premier League side 'forfeited' the game, causing concern that Rovers never intended to progress through the domestic competition.

"My comments at the press conference were taken out of context," Kean told the club's official website. "There is absolutely no way that we would ever consciously forfeit a game, quite the opposite. What I was trying to say was that by not winning we had forfeited an opportunity to take another step towards a Wembley final. If my explanation or wording was vague or unclear then I regret that.

"I want to stress that both of the major knockout competitions are massively important to us, but the Premier League will always be our primary objective. But I refute in the strongest possible terms any suggestion that we didn't treat the competition with due respect.

"However, I make no excuses for recognising the importance of Saturday's game with Swansea and basing my decisions accordingly - as the manager I have to assess every situation on its merits."

Meanwhile, Rovers' opponents will face Crystal Palace in the league cup semi-final while Manchester City and Liverpool also go head to head for a spot at the Wembley final.

ID:9335: cacheID:9335:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2124:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Brendan Rodgers
Read Next:
Rodgers plans to pile misery on Kean
>
Read more about Steve Kean Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Bengals
34-35
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland149322391430
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd149321871128
3Leeds UnitedLeeds147522291326
4Burnley146621761124
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom14572148622
6Millwall146441712522
7Watford147162222022
8Middlesbrough146351816221
9Swansea CitySwansea14545119219
10Blackburn RoversBlackburn145451616019
11Bristol City144731819-119
12Norwich CityNorwich144642320318
13Derby CountyDerby145361818018
14Stoke CityStoke145361718-118
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds145361724-718
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd144551717017
17Coventry CityCoventry144371819-115
18Hull City143651518-315
19Luton TownLuton144371621-515
20Preston North EndPreston143651420-615
21Cardiff CityCardiff144371320-715
22Plymouth ArgylePlymouth144371425-1115
23Queens Park RangersQPR141761223-1110
24Portsmouth141671327-149


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!