Manchester United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz has insisted he has been unaffected by the criticism coming his way following the lacklustre start to the Red Devils’ Premiership season.
United boss Alex Ferguson may still be off-limits, because of his long record of success at Old Trafford, so instead his Portuguese deputy has found himself being blamed by some fans for United’s change in formation and controversial team selections.
Adding to the pressure has been the fact that Premier League champions Chelsea are already 10 points clear of United at the top of the table.
So intense did the attacks on Queiroz become that Ferguson used his programme notes for Saturday’s drawn Premiership match against Tottenham to defend his deputy.
But the former Real Madrid and South African coach, speaking ahead of Wednesday’s potential banana-skin League Cup clash at home to League Two strugglers Barnet, said he could cope with the flak.
”Some say it doesn’t matter whether it is for good or bad reasons, the most important thing is people are talking about us,” Queiroz said.
”I don’t really care about the criticism. After so many years in the game, I know the important thing is to deliver for the club and reach the goals our fans expect.
”We can all learn from opinions but in the end we should do the things we believe to be right. If, at any point in the season, you stop doing that, you will not go anywhere.”
Despite their faltering start to the season, Queiroz confirmed that United would continue their policy of using League Cup games as a means of giving youngsters and players returning from injury, a chance of first-team action.
But Louis Saha is set to miss out once more after suffering yet another injury setback.
After scoring six goals in his first eight games since his £12,8-million move from Fulham, the France striker has spent much of his time at Old Trafford on the sidelines.
This season he has been battling to overcome a knee injury and on Monday he pulled-up in training with a fresh problem.
”Louis complained of a pain at the back of his leg during training,” Queiroz explained.
”He has gone for a scan but we will not get the results until tomorrow and we will not take a risk with him until we are exactly sure what has happened.”
In Saha’s absence Wes Brown, making his first appearance for over two months after a knee injury, is likely to be the most experienced player in a starting line-up that could offer senior starting debuts to four players, including Lee Martin, an 18-year-old midfielder recruited from Wimbledon last summer for £:1-million.
”Every competition is important to us but we will not compromise our strategic approach to this one just because we didn’t do well last season,” said Queiroz.
”We want to win the trophy but we also have a responsibility to develop young players. We trust the youngsters who will play tomorrow. We know they have great qualities, that is why they are here.
”It is difficult because we haven’t had much time to prepare the squad as a team. But they have played a lot of football together in the reserves and they are ready.
”All they need to do is play for the team and perform as we know they can.” – AFP
