NO DISTRACTIONS FOR HEINZE AS RONNIE CRASHES OUT

Last updated : 19 August 2004 By Editor
Gabriel Heinze:
β€œI have been keeping in touch with news at Manchester United but my head is totally with this competition at present. I saw highlights of the Chelsea game on television but you can only learn so much from that.

"Of course I'm looking forward to joining up with the rest of my United teammates. They have some great players from all over the world and it is fantastic to have the opportunity to play with them.

"I will defend my (Argentina) shirt with honour. Winning a gold medal would be one of the proudest moments of my career.

"It has been a busy summer and it has been quite physical but when you pull on the Argentina shirt you feel very, very, comfortable.

"I was proud to be selected and I was happy to come to Greece.

"I know what the coach has said and it does not worry me at all. I am not affected by it. I really wanted to be here and play for my country - it was very important to play for Argentina for me. When I finish here I will think of Manchester United."

β€œIt's normal that Manchester United complain because they made a big effort to sign me. It's normal to protest and of course the player is then caught in the middle. But my head is in this championship here though, and there is no point in my worrying about Manchester. I will think of that when I go home.”


Cristiano Ronaldo makes an earlier-than-expected exit from the Olympics after Portugal crashed out of the competition with a 4-2 defeat to Costa Rica.
Portugal needed to avoid defeat to set up a quarter final clash with tournament favourites Argentina, for whom Ronaldo's new United team-mate Gabriel Heinze plays.

Ronaldo was an unused substitute in the match on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile Argentina have four 2006 World Cup qualifiers before the end of the year against Peru (4 Sept), Uruguay (9 Oct), Chile (12 Oct) and Venezuela (16 Nov).