Southampton manager Dusan Tadic has hit out at the treatment he has received from manager Claude Puel and wants more respect from the Frenchman.
Tadic, 28, has struggled to find his best form under Puel this season and has failed to complete 90 minutes in each of his last six matches for the club.
The Serbia international has often been withdrawn from action when his side are either level or ahead only to watch his teammate succumb to defeat while he is on the bench and it’s starting to frustrate the Southampton creator.
“It’s unbelievable that I was subbed again and we also lost,” Tadic told The Sun. “You can see statistically that we concede or lose when I’ve been taken off. I don’t think this shows enough respect for me.
“This has happened a lot after my broken nose. The injury was a long time ago. I’m playing a lot and feel I’m important for the team – but then I leave the pitch. I feel good but he [Puel] doesn’t want to give me the chance for the whole match.
“Maybe he decided before the game he would sub me and he should not do that. He should know in the last 20 minutes there are lots of spaces and I am the kind of player that can make a difference with one move.
“As a player you want to play all game. And I think I deserve that. I am not the one who decides the future but I want to be shown more respect because of the statistics.
“Everyone is always asking me whether I’m injured after I get taken off. We spoke before about that and I told him a few times that but he doesn’t understand. He doesn’t show enough respect for me.”
Tadic has only managed to score and assist seven goals in 23 Premier League appearances this season, while only Eden Hazard (18) and Nacer Chadli (17) have been subbed off more times in the Premier League than Tadic so far (16).
For more stats on Dusan Tadic, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
