QPR midfielder Joey Barton has criticised team-mate Adel Taarabt for not working hard enough, and has stated that the playmaker should apologise for his tantrums of late.
The comments come after a 1-1 draw at Loftus Road with Blackburn on Saturday, with the newly promoted side starting to feel the rigours of top flight football.
With the Morocco international not having the same impact this term that he did in The Championship last season, Barton has asked for more commitment from the schemer.
“I came here and was told he was a genius. But I’m yet to see it and I don’t know whether it is because he does not work hard enough, or whether he tends to sulk,” Barton told Mirror Football.
“This is the top level of world football and if you’re not prepared to work hard you will come up massively short.
“If I had Adel’s ability, I would not want to be coming up short having not worked hard enough,” he continued.
Taarabt was angered by being substituted at half-time in QPR’s 6-0 defeat to Fulham a fortnight ago, and walked out on his team to get the bus home instead of watching the rest of the defeat from the sidelines.
Barton has slammed the 22-year-old for his petulance, and feels an apology was necessary.
“I don’t know if he got a lot of stick. He deserved some if he didn’t,” Barton continued.
“Reaction [is] the most important thing, not getting a bus home with fans and storming off. Adel knows that.
“It would have been nice if he had come in and apologised to the group for doing that, but he didn’t think he needed to. As one of the senior players, maybe he should have,” he concluded.
Neil Warnock faces a tough test in housing the two fiery characters in his squad, and can be assured that both will be vocal in their displeasure if things do not go right for the team.
By Gareth McKnight
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