NEVER GO BACK

Last updated : 03 June 2004 By Editor
The appointment of Queiroz as United’s assistant manager should be confirmed this week after he accepted an offer from Fergie.

David Gill said:

"Carlos was with us for a season when we won the Premier League. He had an excellent working relationship with Sir Alex and was well respected throughout the club and football.

"There is nothing specific yet. If anything happens we will make an announcement at the appropriate time."


Extracts from an interview with Quieroz in the Guardian:

- Carlos, is Alex Ferguson as hard as he looks?
- No, no... he's a fantastic human being. People misunderstand him. In football sometimes we create an atmosphere where people think they can criticise and attack freely, gratuitously. Most of the time coaches are the face of everything that is wrong. Sometimes when coaches put their finger on the right thing people say: "What is this? He's trying to be a tough guy."

- He's a bit fierce though...
- I think Alex is a very, very sensitive man and, as a Scotsman, when he needs to say something, when he needs to be strong, he is strong - that's why he is a good manager. In football, you can't just use "Yes" and "Maybe", sometimes in this world, in this football world, you have to say "No". Why are people surprised by that? The problem is that everything is so comfortable, so simple, so easy... Maradona, Pelé, Zidane, yes, maybe, nice, easy... No! When it is no we must say "No", when it is maybe it is "Maybe", when it is yes it is "Yes." I think Alex is a fantastic human being.

- What's the difference between Manchester United and Real Madrid?
- They have different mentalities. You cannot run one company with a Latin mentality, Latin feelings and compare it to a company that is managed by English or German people. Everything here is much more emotional, there's more feeling, sometimes regret. Manchester United are managed through shareholders, while Madrid is owned by the fans, so there is a kind of pact - everything comes from the media, the press. They can interfere, intimidate and affect decisions at the club, which is really different.