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Lennon refuses to be 'scapegoat'
2011-04-06 20:09:03
Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon says he does not want to be made a "scapegoat" for his side's 4-0 Champions League defeat by Real Madrid on Tuesday.
Lennon was initially named in Spurs' starting line-up but was withdrawn close to kick-off at the Bernabeu.
"Believe me this is one game I did not want to miss and still devo [devastated] now," the England international wrote on Twitter.
"Will not be made a scapegoat saying they only knew just before kick-off."
He added: "I fell ill on Sunday morning where the medical team put me on antibiotics, but only got worse before Tuesday."
The comments appear to contradict Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, who had suggested Lennon fell ill and was withdrawn just before kick-off.
Speaking immediately after the quarter-final first-leg defeat, Redknapp said: "It was a difficult night, wasn't it?
"We lost Aaron Lennon just as the teams were walking on to the pitch. He didn't feel well enough to play, so we had to change that straight away."