Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery has insisted he's being physically targeted by opposition defenders more than ever this season, andperhaps that's the reason why he has been involved in several violent altercations on the pitch in the last few weeks.
While Ribery admitted to SportBild that he needs to 'watch my step', he is adamant that players from other teams are 'trying even harder' to get a reaction from him.
"I'm a big name player," he said. "Opponents know that these duels are being closely watched so they try everything in their power to stop me.
"I'm being kicked and fouled this season like nothing before," the 33-year-old added.
"Perhaps, sometimes I lose [my temper] for a moment. But only when I think an opponent is intending to injure me.I don't have anything against fair tackles, but when I get the impression that it's all to try and take me out of the game, I defend myself.
"I don't want to hurt anyone in these incidents and a minute later it's forgotten about."
Ribery, voted the third best player in the world behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi at the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or gala, has been used regularly at the start of 2016/17 after spending much of the last two seasons recovering from persistent injury setbacks.
His long road back to full fitness, particularly from ankle trouble, may offer even more of an explanation as to why he's beenso sensitive about hard and overly rough challenges.
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