23 Sep 2010Foreign stars 'good for English Premier League'

Football Leagues/ Association and Governance | Football Referees, Players, Managers and Media

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has dismissed suggestions that the number of foreign footballers plying their trade in the English Premier League is having a negative impact on the domestic game.

Speaking immediately after a three-day UEFA managers' get-together, the former Real Madrid boss told reporters he is perplexed by the continuing failure of the English national side, but denied overseas stars are blocking English talent.

"I don't think it's damaging for English football to have people from abroad," he said. "On the contrary - I think that it's quite enriching to have good coaches and the best players from around the world."

Del Bosque added that the English game is "very much up to date" and said the national side have "enormously talented players" at their disposal.

England's most recent failure in this summer's FIFA World Cup prompted considerable soul-searching - with even Franz Beckenbauer and Oliver Kahn questioning whether native youngsters get enough top-level games.

Written by Terry Mitchell

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