Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko not a fan of English food

Premier League star Roman Pavlyuchenko has moaned that British food doesn't match that in his homeland Russia.

The £13.8million striker, 27, said meals at Spurs were "simple and modest" and he prefers Russian dumplings.

He whined: "I don't like their dishes. All they have is a simple canteen. At the Spartak training camp near Moscow the choice and quality of food is better.

"But since my wife Larisa joined me in London it's not a problem for me anymore. She is a very good cook and now I eat mostly at home. I'm back to my favourite borsch and vareniki (beetroot soup and dumplings stuffed with cottage cheese) and feel as if I never moved countries."

His comments came a week after the wife of Arsenal's new £15million Russian striker Andrey Arshavin, 27, also took a swipe at English culture. Yulia, 26, said: "I do not like England. People are too reserved and it's dull. I do not like English cuisine. Finding the right food may turn into a problem."

Pampered Pavlyuchenko also complained that English football was too rough. He told Total Football magazine in Moscow: "They play a much harsher football than in Russia. Their referees allow rougher tackling."

And in a final insult, he said Russian women were prettier than Brits. "There can't be any comparison," he said.

Roman may not like British women, but he does like the wildlife, as you can find out here...

Arsenal's new recruit Andrey Arshavin will need to win over his missus on the English front too...

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