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Hatem Ben Arfa slags off Jose Mourinho & Ronaldo as examples of where football has gone wrong

Hatem Ben Arfa has been making headlines again.

Last season it was for his on the pitch contribution, a remarkable 17 goals from midfield as he inspired Nice into being a top four team.

This season though, his move to PSG has turned very sour, only five Ligue 1 starts and a week ago Hatem Ben Arfa released a public statement simply asking to have a proper opportunity in the remaining weeks.

He was an unused substitute on Saturday as PSG beat Monaco 4-1 away from home in the Cup.

The former Newcastle winger has now made another off the pitch contribution, in an interview with France Football the winger/playmaker has expressed his dismay at the style of football favoured by so many clubs and managers today.

Talking about them as the ‘antithesis of Johan Cruyff and his freedom’, Hatem Ben Arfa picked out Manchester United’s Joe Mourinho and Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone for special mention…saying ‘with them there is no longer room for pleasure’ when it comes to the playing style they prefer.

The French maverick declaring that if ‘you are not of the mould’ and do the unpredictable ‘you are rejected’.

Amusingly, Hatem even picks out Ronaldo and declares ‘he does not give me any emotion – he is predictable’.

Hatem Ben Arfa talking to France Football:

“Too many standards, too many issues. If you are not of the mould, you’re rejected. Everything is stereotyped.

“Many coaches are convinced to invent football on the pretext that they are looking for and find the system to block the opponent. With them there is no more pleasure.

“I like the South Americans: Bielsa (former Argentina Manager), Sampaoli (Sevila Manager). There is a lot of rigour, a lot of work but they leave the possibility of instantaneity.

“But this is not in the essence of football, with (Jose) Mourinho and (Diego) Simeone.

“It is the antithesis of Johan Cruyff and his freedom – with them there is no longer room for pleasure.

“There is no more spectacle, to the point that football interests me much less.

“I do not find pleasure watching matches. Even in Ligue 1, we kill football.

“Cristiano Ronaldo, he does not give me any emotion – he is predictable.”