Queiroz shrugs off criticism
Carlos Queiroz has shrugged off the personal criticism he has attracted for Manchester United’s below-par start to the season and insisted it is the day people stop talking about the club he will really start to worry.
So intense have the attacks on the Red Devils’ assistant boss been in recent weeks that Alex Ferguson used his programme notes prior to Saturday’s draw with Tottenham specifically to defend the former Real Madrid coach.
Ferguson reckons the blame for everything, from United’s switch in formation to some controversial team selections, are being laid at Queiroz’s door, mainly because the Scot himself has become immune to such attacks.
But, ahead of tomorrow night’s Carling Cup encounter with Barnet, Queiroz has insisted he can deal with the abuse and remains focused on delivering trophies to Old Trafford.
“Some say it doesn’t matter whether it is for good or bad reasons, the most important thing is people are talking about us,” he 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.”
Having already slipped 10 points adrift of Chelsea in the Premiership and with their Champions League performances so far falling some way short of those expected of potential winners, there are some who argue United would be better advised abandoning their usual philosophy of using the secondary domestic cup competition for blooding their young stars.
However, Queiroz has confirmed the policy will be maintained and their League Two opponents will be faced with the usual mix of untested teenage talent, first-team fringe men and those coming back from injury.
The latter group should have included Louis Saha but the luckless French striker has been ruled out with the latest in a string of injuries.
So frequent have Saha’s absences been since he burst onto the Old Trafford scene with six goals in his first eight games following his £12.8m (€18.9m) move from Fulham that one leading United fanzine has cruelly dubbed the forward “man of glass”.
After spending the entire season so far battling to overcome a knee injury, Saha pulled up in training with a new problem yesterday and Queiroz admitted United’s medical staff do not yet know how serious it is.
“Louis complained of a pain at the back of his leg during training,” said Queiroz.
“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.”
With Saha out, 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 £1m (€1.5m).
Gerard Pique and Giuseppe Rossi are two of the more recognised young players set to start, while Kieran Richardson is also expected to be included after his recent groin injury.
“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,” outlined 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.”
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