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Moravcik- Dont blame foreign stars

By Team Talk
Wednesday, 10th March 2010
Tony Mowbray's starting line-up for their Scottish Premier League contest at Falkirk on Sunday contained no players who were eligible for Scotland after the manager added seven foreigners to his first-team squad in January.

Scotland internationals Paul Hartley, Barry Robson and Gary Caldwell, who were instrumental in Celtic's most recent title triumph in 2008, have departed since Mowbray took charge with club captain Stephen McManus going on loan to Middlesbrough last month.

Celtic began 2010 seven points behind SPL leaders Rangers with a game in hand but the gap extended to 13 points last night when the Ibrox side won at Kilmarnock to make full use of their extra match.

Moravcik was back in Glasgow to launch a sports project designed to promote cultural diversity and the Slovakian feels an international dressing room is no barrier to success.

"It's not a problem," the former midfield playmaker said.

"Look at Arsenal, no English players except maybe (Theo) Walcott and (Sol) Campbell is now back.

"Even in my time we had 15 nationalities in the dressing room. It's not a problem, it's just a problem finding a good player, not where they come from. Fans just want to see good football."

Moravcik took little time to settle at Parkhead when he arrived in 1998, netting twice in a 5-1 victory in his first Old Firm match.

But he realises that Celtic are in a different situation to the successful times he went on to enjoy under Martin O'Neill.

"I don't like to compare teams because I played almost 10 years ago here and the situation in European football has changed," the 44-year-old said.

"Ten years change a lot of things - TV rights have gone higher in England, Spain and even in France.

"It's very hard for Scottish clubs to keep high salaries for big names. Rangers and Celtic try to do the best possible but you can see it's not good enough for European competition."

Moravcik has abandoned plans for a coaching career after lasting less than a season in charge of Slovakian top-flight outfit FC Vion Zlate Moravce.

And he believes Mowbray deserves time to achieve success.

Moravcik added: "It's hard to be a coach. You can imagine how many players finish their careers, there is not an opportunity for everyone.

"I had six months and I was sacked. That's football. I would like to have had more time to do something.

"After six months it's difficult, even after one year. It depends how passionate the manager is and the situation with the directors and fans.

"I don't know why results are like this and whether the fans are happy. It's not always the manager who is totally responsible for results, even though he has a big responsibility. You have to analyse very deeply."

Moravcik was at the national stadium to take a training session for children at nearby St Bride's Primary School, which has 30 Slovakian pupils, as part of a Hampden Sports Clinic scheme to boost integration.

Moravcik, whose two children went to school in Scotland and whose son now studies at university in Dundee, said: "They

were the only two Slovakian people in Scottish schools but integration was good because all staff were very friendly.

"My kids quickly started speaking English and my family was very happy."

Source: Team Talk

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