Gravesen nearly walks out on press after Copenhagen questions

CELTIC midfielder Thomas Gravesen reacted angrily yesterday to questions about his form and threatened to pull the plug on a press conference.

The Danish midfielder has blown hot and cold since arriving from Real Madrid in the summer and was roundly criticised after the 3-1 midweek defeat to FC Copenhagen in the Champions League group stage. Gravesen played in an unfamiliar role on the right side of midfield and was substituted in the second half to the jeers of his fellow countrymen in the Parken Stadium.

The 30-year-old has refused to speak to the Danish media after quitting international football in the summer. And during a press conference at Celtic Park ahead of tomorrow's trip to Dunfermline in the Bank of Scotland Premierleague, the former Everton player was in no mood to talk about the Copenhagen match or himself.

Asked first about the game in the Parken Stadium, Gravesen said: "No comment. We look forward to the Dunfermline game and that's why I am sitting here." Then, when asked about his performances, he ignored the question and retorted: "The Dunfermline game please. I think the team has played very well, we are in a fantastic position at the moment. I'm in a team and it's called Celtic, it's not a single-man thing, it's a team."

When prompted once more to discuss his form, he snapped: "If you ask me one more time about me, I walk out. Ask about the team, ask about Dunfermline."

As the press conference deteriorated into farce, Gravesen was quizzed on whether confidence had been affected by the midweek defeat and he snapped: "I don't know." When asked if he was angry and upset by the media, he claimed: "No. Ask about the Dunfermline game, that's why I'm here."

To finish off a remarkable confrontation, which lasted just over two minutes, the Dane was asked if he thought it was possible Celtic could lose to Dunfermline. Before leaving the midfielder replied: "I don't know."

Manager Gordon Strachan was more forthcoming when asked to reflect on his team's Champions League showing in midweek. In the immediate aftermath of yet another away defeat in the tournament, their 11th in 12 attempts, Strachan vowed to "sort out" the problems his players have on their European travels. But yesterday he took heart from reaching the last 16. "We created a wee bit of history for ourselves as Rangers did last season and I feel better now," he explained. "It hurts when you get beat but people have been phoning me up and saying 'get a grip of yourself for goodness sake' and even my wife said 'cheer up'. But you have to hurt when you get beat, no matter where it is.

"But looking back now, we are leading the SPL and are into the last 16 of the Champions League so we must be pleased with ourselves. We never claimed to be a great side but we are actually a decent side with decent players and we have got a good attitude."