Lennon refuses to be scapegoat

Last updated : 06 April 2011 By BBC Sport

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4-0 Champions League defeat by Real Madrid on Tuesday.Lennon was initially named in Spurs' starting line-up but was withdrawn close to kick-off at the Bernabeu.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."

Speaking after the quarter-final first-leg defeat, Spurs manager Harry 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."

Tottenham refused to comment, but added that Lennon will be assessed when he and the rest of the squad return to training on Thursday.

The Londoners face Stoke in the Premier League on Saturday, before the return leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Real four days later.

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport