Boro boss refutes radio critisism
Comments were tongue in cheek'
GORDON STRACHAN accepts his quick-wit and sarcastic nature can easily be misunderstood, but the Middlesbrough manager will not be issuing an apology in the wake of his post-match comments against Portsmouth.
Strachan, now infamously, joked that he would take drugs, drink and smoke to handle the pressures of management after watching his side surrender a two-goal lead on October 2.
His comments brought criticism from sections of the Riverside Stadium support and beyond, with a number of followers contacting radio phone-ins to air their view and one writing a letter of complaint to the club.
Strachan's sense of humour has caused a stir for decades, and insists he was merely a frustrated manager hardly in the best of moods at the end of his team's failure to see off Portsmouth.
Rather than concentrate on knocking the fans who have chosen to criticise the Boro boss, he feels sections of the media should be criticised for stirring things up.
Most people do understand me. I listen to radio stations and I was kidding around last week about drugs, smoking, drinking and everyone knows I don't do any of them, said Strachan.
Yet the people who are criticising on these radio stations seem to have people working for them who have done all of these things. Yet it's not a problem to employ them.
I think there are only ten (phone calls) who have complained about it, there's much more to worry about in life. It was tongue in cheek and everyone knows it was tongue in cheek.
I don't really get upset about people who write in, I get upset by the people who wind those people up to write in or phone in. Everyone knows what I am like.
From the moment Strachan took over from Gareth Southgate almost 12 months ago, his approach to interviews and style of management has been the subject of debate.
But he feels those who regularly talk to him know when he is being sarcastic or joking and understands why others may get the wrong impression.
He will, however, not be apologising.
We sit here every week and laugh and joke about things, every week, and nothing is really said.
Certain people will take offence, said Strachan, due to face Middlesbrough's supporters when Leeds travel to Teesside tomorrow.
I am kind of agnostic.
There's either nothing there or there could be. If I go and meet my maker and I'm asked what have you done wrong Gordon' I will say I have upset a few people on Radio Five for being sarcastic.
If I'm told I can't be let in to heaven, then that's a bit unfair.
I'm not a hard character. I speak to radio and TV every week and we have fun and games.
Most people will laugh and joke with us. If there's ten people upset then there's something wrong.
He will now focus on proving to chairman Steve Gibson that he is right to stand by him during a difficult start to the campaign.
Boro are three points above the relegation zone albeit five adrift of the top six and Strachan is looking for things to change tomorrow.
I can only make the people who I live with, work with and meet happy, said Strachan, who has told Gibson he is still determined to deliver at Boro.
I hope to get a bit of respect back from those who I respect.
I enjoy this environment and it's never been a problem before. I can only deal with people who get in contact with me and treat them properly. If there are ten people among 70 million or whatever in Britain then fine. I can't apologise for something that was a joke.
I have to win games. I do think that the more games you win, the less people pick up on small things like that.
Strachan will have to deliver a favourable result against Leeds without Kevin Thomson as his midfield crisis took a turn for the worse.
With Barry Robson due to start a three-match ban, Thomson has had further tests on the leg injury that resurfaced against Portsmouth, while Mikael Tavares is a major doubt with a virus.
Strachan said: We have a good midfield of Rhys Williams, Willo Flood, Kevin Thomson and Mikael Tavares, who has a fever, and Robson out suspended, all missing.
He added: We are fine. We do believe it will click. They are full of effort but you have to stay focused. In life there are difficult parts and that's the same for a coach, a manager, a footballer.
These things make you stronger. We thank the fans for sticking with us and hopefully we can give them a good run of games.
Source: Northern Echo
Source: Northern Echo