/ 17 September 2005

Queiroz defends Real record

Manchester United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz has defended his record as coach at Real Madrid, saying the Spanish club’s disastrous start to the new season shows he was not the cause of its weakness.

”What is going on now with the club just proves that my work was not judged fairly by the management of the club,” the Portuguese coach told sports daily A Bola.

”I am more and more convinced that what I achieved was almost a miracle, given the big limitations of the squad that was available to me, which is much different now,” he added.

”Real spent almost €90-million in reinforcements, and from what we can see the situation has not improved,” he said.

Queiroz, who is tipped to take over from Alex Ferguson when the Scot eventually steps down at Old Trafford, was sacked by Real in May last year after the club finished fourth in the Spanish league.

He had spent just one season with the club.

Current Real coach Wanderley Luxemburgo is under pressure to change his 4-2-2-2 formation after the club lost 3-2 at home to Celta Vigo last Saturday and 3-0 at Lyon in the Champions League on Tuesday. — Sapa-AFP