Dion Dublin should butt out when he tells TV viewers he doesn't like me

By Robbie Savage

Published 23:03 12/11/09

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Dion Dublin doesn't like me.

How do I know? Did he tell me to my face? No, he was brave enough to tell a few million Sky viewers last Friday night after Derby's win against Coventry - when he knew I was safely celebrating in our dressing room.

I used to look up to Dion while I was a kid at Old Trafford and he was briefly on the edge of the first team. I remember one brilliant reserve team game when he scored one and I scored two as we beat Wolves 3-2.

Years later, as you might remember, we clashed in a 2003 Birmingham derby when I was at Blues and he was with Villa. Dion was about 20 minutes late with a tackle on me and when I complained, he headbutted me and was sent off. So if anything, I should be the one who dislikes him.

But I don't. I always thought Dion and I had quite a lot in common. We both broke our legs. We both broke our necks. We both went for around £8million in transfer fees. And neither of us were good enough to play for Manchester United!

I wouldn't have minded if he'd come out and said, "Robbie Savage didn't do such-and-such very well in the game" or even "Robbie Savage is a crap player".

But to simply say he doesn't like me isn't brilliant punditry - and it's mystifying how he's come to that conclusion when he's never been for a pint with me or met me socially. In fact, the closest we've been since United is when he nutted me!

Dion was obviously upset that we had beaten Coventry and he felt I had something to do with the sending off of young Jordan Clarke. I think he should watch the video again.

Clarke had already been yellow carded and he lunged into me recklessly. No referee in the country would have let him get away with that. I've looked at my own part in the incident and I don't feel I did anything wrong.

I understand that Dion is trying to make a career for himself in the media. It's an avenue I would like to pursue myself when I'm no longer able to carry on playing.

But what surprises me is that many journalists tell me Dion was hardly very forthcoming and co-operative with the press when he was a player. Now he fancies making a few quid as a media pundit. I'll let others decide whether that is hypocrisy.

For my part, win lose or draw, whether I've had a terrible game or a very rare good one, I'll always front up the media and communicate with the fans. It's part of the job of being a pro footballer.

Sure, there's a few people who I don't like in football. But I'll always try to be fair and balanced and not be vindictive.

And, if anyone from Sky or BBC is reading this, let's put me and Dion on face to face in a studio to debate the issue. Any time, any place. Bring it on.

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