Venables praise for midfielder
Last updated : 17 September 2002 By Elland Roader
The Frenchman was expected to move away from Elland Road during the close season after interest from both Juventus and Lazio but with nothing happening before the new transfer window came Dacourt remained at United.
"We've had a problem in that it looked like from the beginning as if Olivier was going to go," Venables told the clubs official website, "I didn't know whether he was going to stay.
"So he had a problem and I had a problem because it was a case of 'is he in the plans or isn't he?'
"There isn't a natural holding player in the club. Olivier's natural game is slightly different to what he is doing now. I played Eirik to start and it didn't suit him greatly, but I am a big admirer of him. He's a very good player.
"Then of course the deadline went and Olly hadn't gone, so that's maybe one of the plusses of the transfer window situation, in that we can say 'well, there's four months at least you're here'.
"He's reacted brilliantly since, he's shaped his game slightly and in two games with Newcastle and Manchester United, he's been a very influential member of the team."
