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Anderlecht stars turn on Koller Thursday 15th February 2001 Jan Koller's Anderlecht team-mates appear to be laying the blame for their Champions' League defeat by Leeds United at the huge feet of their giant Czech Republic striker who has been accused of letting off-field distractions affect his game. "Perhaps this will bring someone down to earth," said colleague Bertrand Crasson. The Belgium player-of-the-year missed two glorious opportunities at Elland Road which would have won the game for his side, and generally his form has slumped in recent weeks. And, some his colleagues have added to the notion that Koller's increasing fame is affecting his game. Crasson mentioned no names, but he seemed to have Koller in mind when he said: "Perhaps this defeat will bring someone down to earth." He added: "I can see that it's hard for Koller. He needs to get more rest and get away from the hangers-on. "It doesn't help that people are shouting about him being worth £16 million. Now people are saying Sunderland will pay £12 million. All this talk is getting to him and he needs to think more about his daily routine." He was also highly-critical of one of Koller's misses late in the game at Leeds. "It was inexcusable at this level," he said. And, frontman Tomasz Radzinski expressed concerns that his striking partner had suffered from off-field distractions since being named player of the year in Belgium at the end of January. "He must say no," Radzinski said, in reference to the number of invitations and public engagements which have come Koller's way recently. Koller, who has scored only once in six starts this year after hitting 13 goals in 17 matches before Christmas, admits his form hasn't been up to scratch but doesn't blame outside influences. He said: "I know I haven't been at my best since the winter break. "I don't feel particularly tired or especially under pressure since my player-of-the-year award. But it's true that during a match, I don't feel like I did last year. "I've just to keep working hard and hope that I can score in the next few games." Whatever he says, the sudden press interest in Koller's glamorous Czech girlfriend has also been difficult for the essentially shy 27-year-old to handle. Hedvika Horvathova was the "media star" on the night when Koller received the Golden Boot, and seems set for a modelling career after appearing across an eight-page spread in a national magazine. Anderlecht themselves must also shoulder some of the blame for Koller's increasingly high-profile. Pictures of the striker and his girlfriend adorn the club's official website, match programmes and even appear in the window of the club shop. Such is their popularity, club president Roger Vanden Stock made a request to be also photographed with the happy couple. Despite all the criticism, however, manager Aime Anthuenis is backing Koller to bounce back. He said: "People have short memories. They should remember what he has done for the club since his arrival here. To be frank, I don't understand why everyone is criticising Jan Koller. "For me, he played against a formidable opponent in Rio Ferdinand at Leeds. In matches like that, it's too easy to blame the strikers." |
