Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini has said that he is "not a dirty player" after ending his suspension in time for Saturday's FA Cup final against Crystal Palace at Wembley.
Fellaini had missed the final three league games of the season as he was banned for elbowing Leicester City's Robert Huth, who was also handed a suspension for pulling the Belgian's hair before that incident.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said, after the elbowing, that he did not want to see Fellaini again in the Premier League, before later back-tracking on his comments.
Fellaini said in the Daily Mirror: "Everyone has their opinion. If I had to listen to all the opinions about me, my head would explode. So I just focus on my job, the manager, my team-mates, the club.
"I know when I do bad and good. I'm not a dirty player. People can think whatever they want.
"I never injured a player. Never. I just react. Maybe sometimes I am impulsive, I say that. It's my character. But, when someone pulls your hair, it's normal to react.
"For this situation, I don't deserve to be punished. Huth grabbed my hair, he made pain on my neck, so I just react.
"Come on. If someone grabs your hair, you will react the same. The managers, the players, the staff the club, everyone knows it was a normal reaction. That's why my teammates and the manager were not angry with me."
United manager Louis van Gaal publicly defended the player after the Leicester game, commenting that hair-pulling is only allowed in "sex masochism." Fellaini said: "I saw that. It made me laugh. And he is right."
Van Gaal is under pressure after United missed out on the top four in the Premier League on goal difference. Fellaini, though, said that the strain has not affected the Dutchman in the dressing room.
The United midfielder said: "He's an honest person. Strict. He likes discipline -- everyone knows that. He said that. He likes it when the team improves."