Van Persie takes aim at arch-rivals

Arsenal’s Robin van Persie has launched a scathing verbal attack on Chelsea and Barcelona.

The Dutch international is preparing for Saturday’s friendly clash against Brazil but accused his club’s London rivals of complaining to match officials and the European champions of trying to get opposition players booked.

Van Persie said Chelsea, who finished runners-up in the English Premier League this campaign, needed to turn their attentions to playing the game.

“People who are watching the game on television and fans really do not want to see these kind of things,” he told Dutch TV.

“If you want to witness a lot of complaints, you should just go to the bakery or something. There’s always people nagging there as well.”

“Chelsea players are always bitching against the referees. I really cannot understand that. Just shut the f*** up and focus on playing football.”

The 27-year-old, who was sent off in Arsenal’s Champions League loss to Barcelona in the round of 16, also criticised the Spaniards for unsporting behaviour.

“They always go up to referees in an attempt to get an opponent booked,” van Persie said.

“They are trying to screw colleagues. That really annoys me.”

“The Barcelona players nag about everything that happens on the pitch. I was disappointed with that.”

Meanwhile, van Persie has called on national coach Bert van Marwijk to stay on with the Netherlands until the 2014 World Cup.

The former Feyenoord coach’s contract expires after the European Championships next year, but he has indicated he could move back to club management.

But van Persie said he wanted the 59-year-old to stay on beyond mid-2012.

“Every time I have been with the national team, he challenges us as a group and me individually,” he told Voetbal International.

“He keeps everyone sharp and demands that we are on top of our game. That’s clever as not every coach knows the right chord to strike with their players.”