Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says defenders Kolo Toure and William Gallas do not have to be friends off the pitch so long as they are professional on it.
The duo have forged a formidable pairing at the heart of the Gunners' defence recently, conceding only five goals in the last 15 games.
Toure though has admitted that he does not get on with his French teammate.
"What is important is that when you are professionals, you play together," said Wenger.
"To be professional is to do what it takes for your team to be successful, not more than that - it does not mean that you go to Paradise together."
Toure and Gallas played together in the centre of Arsenal's defence in Rome on Wednesday where the Gunners progressed to the quarter-final of the Champions League courtesy of a penalty shoot-out victory over Roma.
Ironically the only goal of the game came as a result of poor play by both men, but there were no signs of any disharmony from the nature of the celebrations that followed the win and Wenger maintained he was happy with the situation.
"You have big examples of players who did not get on very well, but that does not mean they cannot play together," he said. "The most important thing is the big players respect the game.
"They put the respect for the game at a higher level than any other situation - if the game needs me to give you the ball now, even if I do not like you, then I give you the ball."
Acting Arsenal captain Toure had earlier described his relationship with former skipper Gallas as "just professional" adding that they had "never got on well".
"I'm friends with Johan Djourou, with Emmanuel Eboue, with Gael Clichy but it's not the same with William. It's the same within every company, you can't be friends with everybody."
|
