Former Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre has hit back at Gabby Agbonlahor after the pundit referred to Ligue 1 as the 'farmer's league' after Tottenham's 2-1 win over Marseille on Tuesday night.
Spurs secured their spot in the Champions League knockout stage, with the London club finishing top of Group D courtesy of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's 95th-minute winner in midweek. Antonio Conte's side went a goal down after half-time, but responded well to win the match at the Orange Velodrome.
However, ex-Aston Villa player Agbonlahor was disappointed with Spurs' approach in the opening period, before going on to criticise Conte's tactics and insisting the Italian should have been more attacking against a group of 'Premier League flops' from the 'farmer's league'.
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Agbonlahor's comments did not sit well with Silvestre, who took to social media to defend French football after hearing what the 36-year-old had said about Ligue 1.
Silvestre said on Twitter: "The farmer’s league provides the biggest foreign contingent in the Premier League! As well as the latest Ballon d’Or… Watch your tongue please!"
The Frenchman, who made more than 350 appearances for the Reds, referenced Karim Benzema's 2022 Ballon d'Or win to argue his point, with the Real Madrid striker having begun his career at Lyon before moving to Los Blancos in 2009.
Agbonlahor had suggested that Marseille's team consists of a group of Premier League rejects, as well as slamming Spurs for making them 'look' like they were playing Madrid.
"In the first half I thought Tottenham were playing Real Madrid," the pundit said on talkSPORT. "It was like they were playing the best ever Real Madrid team. The way they parked that double decker bus in the first half was like nothing I've ever seen before.
"This wasn't even defensive. It was ultra-defensive. Harry Kane was probably halfway through his own half defending.
"You can play defensive tactics and play on the counter-attack, but you've got to leave one player forward. They didn't have anyone forward and Marseille are fifth in the farmer's league.
"They've conceded nine goals in the last 12 games and they're conceding first. They won't keep getting away with it because they're parking the bus but they're still conceding shots."
He continued: "If you look at that Marseille team... (Pau) Lopez the keeper, flop at Spurs. (Chancel) Mbemba, flop at Newcastle. (Nuno) Tavares, flop at Arsenal. (Jordan) Veretout, flop at Aston Villa. (Mateo) Guendouzi, flop at Arsenal. (Sead) Kolasinac who came on, flop at Arsenal.
"These are Premier League flops and you're going into the game parking the biggest bus you'll ever see for the first half."
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