Manchester United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz has slammed the fans who booed manager Alex Ferguson off the pitch after their 2-1 defeat to Blackburn as stupid.
”People have been crying out for us to use a 4-4-2 formation and we played with that system for the first time and lost,” he said.
”We played what the public wanted and lost. This is why in football stupidity and imagination have no limits.”
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger for once came to the rescue of his arch-rival.
”I found the booing appalling,” he said.
”You know I’m not Ferguson’s best friend and, of course, like the players we are only as a good as our last game.
”But what this guy has done for the club, I find it horrendous and nearly unbelievable.”
Ferguson has refused to comment on the booing and was backing United’s supporters to create a good atmosphere against Benfica when they meet in the Champions League on Tuesday.
”European nights have always been special at Old Trafford,” said Ferguson.
”They have always had an extra edge and I am sure the supporters will be great.
”I don’t want to talk about myself. The game is the most important thing and we are doing a good job getting the players back from Saturday’s defeat.”
Ferguson bore the weight of anger on Saturday as growing criticism over his team’s tactics and the surprising omission of Wayne Rooney in the starting line-up led to tempers in the stands boiling over.
The defeat to Rovers left United sixth in the Premiership table, 10 points behind leaders Chelsea.
Darren Fletcher has pledged United will turn on the style against Benfica as they look to win over their disgruntled supporters.
”Our objective in every game is to play exciting, attacking football and score two or three goals,” he said.
”Every week there is a real determination to show the real Manchester United — to go forward and create chances and that is what we will be trying to do against Benfica.”
Two of United’s three previous encounters with the Portuguese giants have gone down in the annals of club history.
While few expect a repeat of the 5-1 annihilation of the Lisbon side in 1966 which led to George Best being christened ‘El Beatle’ or the extra-time triumph at Wembley two years later which saw United become the first English side to win Europe’s most prestigious club competition, the Red Devils support will demand a
performance equal to the one which saw their side beat Fenerbahce 6-2 at the same stage of last season’s competition.
Wayne Rooney, who scored a hat-trick on his debut that night, is missing through suspension, although, in Ruud van Nistelrooy and Paul Scholes, Ferguson believes he has two sharp-shooters who can be just as deadly.
Although Scholes has been particularly profligate as he searches for his first goal of a frustrating campaign.
”Paul is one of the best finishers in the game,” said Ferguson.
”He just needs a goal to get his season off, he just hasn’t managed it yet.
”Nobody in England is scoring that many goals at the moment, so if we are creating chances, at least we have taken one step forward.
”Hopefully we can create chances tonight and take a fair share of them. That would give us an outstanding chance of winning the match.”
Although Benfica top Group D thanks to their late winner against Lille a fortnight ago, Ronald Koeman’s side are only halfway up the Portuguese league and anything other than a home win would only increase the Old Trafford crisis.
Ferguson will assess the fitness of John O’Shea before finalising his line-up, with rookie full-back Phil Bardsley standing by to replace the Irishman, who limped out of the Blackburn defeat.
Park Ji-Sung is tipped to retain his place in Rooney’s absence, although Ryan Giggs could be drafted in for only his second start of the campaign. – Sapa-AFP