Sir Alex and United under fire

Filed in archive Transfer rumours on June 13, 2008

It is reported in the morning's daily express that Portugal are likely to target Manchester United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz to replace the Chelsea bound Felipe Scolari as national coach after Euro 2008.

It is also widely reported that after Portugal's convincing 3-1 win over the Czech Republic Cristiano Ronaldo mischievously told the gathered press crowd that he just 'loved playing in all white'.

These must be unusual times for United's boss Sir Alex Ferguson. Normally a man totally in charge of all around him he is currently in danger of losing his right hand man and his best player. This despite having just won the Premier League and the Champions League.

You would have thought that after such a successful season everyone would be raring to go to try to do it again. Neither Ronaldo or Queiroz have denied the rumours or spoken out against them which must cause Fergie some concern.

It is not often that Fergie finds himself under fire but at the moment he appears to be being shot at more than he is shooting. Of course, he may be keeping relatively quiet because he knows that both men are staying and they just haven't yet made that public.

The loss of either man would be a serious blow. The need to keep Ronaldo is obvious. The need to keep Queiroz is shown by the problems Fergie has had in the past when he hasn't had a close and trusted number two.

What should have been a relaxed and enjoyable summer for Fergie is turning into a bit of a nightmare. Unless, of course, he knows something that none of us do.