Carlos Queiroz: The powerful have never liked me

China Daily – SOCHI, Carlos Queiroz’s philosophy involves always saying what he thinks. That cost him a few headaches at Real Madrid, but it did not scare him into changing: he is now Iran’s manager and continues to demand from the federation everything he thinks is necessary to attain success.

“It is the manager’s responsibility to be demanding and to ask for what is necessary. Not talking about such things would mean resigning from my responsibilities, it would be like living in the shadow of collusion. I cannot be in cahoots with things that are wrong, because I hate indifference,” Mozambique-born globetrotter Queiroz, 65, told dpa in an interview in Sochi.

With a quiet voice and continuous gestures, the Portuguese manager analysed Iran’s prospects, and he also praised Julen Lopetegui’s Spain and spoke about Portugal’s liberation.

dpa: This is your third World Cup. Does experience matter?

Queiroz: It is very important, because it gives you the serenity of knowing how to prepare well. And that is particularly important for a team like Iran, whose players are not that experienced. For many of them, this will be the first time they play games like these. Conveying a sense of confidence and calm is important.

dpa: How do you convey that?

Queiroz: The most important thing is for them to focus on the task at hand. At a World Cup, there are many factors that can distract you. There are many games, lots of reporters. You need to resort to experience to keep them focused on what matters.

dpa: You have been a manager in Portugal, Spain, Japan, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates… Don’t you get tired of it?

Queiroz: No, you cannot get tired of something like that. For me, training has never involved sacrifice, work or suffering. It has always been a pleasure. I love the task of making those around me better. In order to respond to fans’ expectations, you need good results. And you achieve those by getting better and better. It is a pleasure to feel that the people around you have become better players and better people. It is a pleasure and a source of satisfaction you never get tired of.

dpa: Iran were the second national team to qualify for Russia 2018. Do you think people underestimate them?

Queiroz: We have qualified as the first team in Asia, with nothing but wins, without conceding [many] goals. It has been a calm qualifying round, but not an easy one. Some people mix up the two. There is nothing easy in football, least of all World Cup qualification. People now look at Iran differently, more respectfully: they know that we do not have any players in the best championships, that we have great difficulties to prepare, that political problems and sanctions greatly affect the country and its sports. Iran’s preparations are very complicated, and we have great difficulties with facilities and funding. We need to turn such agony into magic.

dpa: And you have complained that the federation is not helpful enough.

Queiroz: Let me correct you: I have not complained. People mistake a manager’s obligation to demand what his team needs to make progress with complaints or lamentations. That is not a complaint. It is the manager’s responsibility to be demanding and to ask for what is necessary. Not talking about such things would mean resigning from my responsibilities, it would be like living in the shadow of collusion. I cannot be in cahoots with things that are wrong, because I hate indifference. A leader has to remain active and to create the conditions for success. I know I am not an easy manager. Officials do not like me very much. That has always been the same. I am not an “establishment manager,” one who will always suck up to people. The powerful have never liked me. That is my philosophy of life. I work for the fans, for the players and for the team’s success. I go out and fight for the best facilities and equipment, so players can give their utmost without excuses.

dpa: Is it good or bad luck to have to share a group with Spain and Portugal?

Queiroz: You always want to play the World Cup, but what do you expect when you get there? Playing Sudan or Ethiopia? I say that with all due respect, but no, you want to play with the best. The players are excited, nervous, anxious, because it is a unique opportunity. Some people think the draw is a problem. Others look at it as an opportunity and a challenge. Iran have never reached the round of 16. Since that is a special objective, there is only one solution: to undertake special preparations. I can give my technical opinion of how to do it, but it is up to the federation’s president to make the final decision. Decisions need to be made. Let the sports minister ask himself: what is Iran’s priority? My opinion, which is very humble although I have been in football for 36 years, is that local players stand no chance of competing at a World Cup unless the get special preparations. Not one manager can sit before me and tell me that training for three days before friendlies will be enough for Iran. If anyone says that, they are either not honest or not competent.

dpa: Do you consider yourself a leader in that sense?

Queiroz: Being a leader and not making decisions is something anyone could do, but that is not what a leader is. Being a leader implies making decisions.

dpa: What can you tell us about Sardar Azmoun, Iran’s star?

Queiroz: He has left Iran, he plays in the Russian championship. He has taken a step forward and he is helping the national team make progress. He is a role model for what needs to happen in Iran: players need to leave early and compete in the best tournaments. Russia 2018 will prove that Europe is 50 years ahead of Africa and Asia. They have the best managers, the best players, the best conditions and the best league and Champions League systems. Their players are up there.

dpa: What have Spain changed under Lopetegui?

Queiroz: He has added a different dimension. He is more rigorous and more disciplined. He is keeping the fantasy and the virtuosity in passing they had with [Vicente] Del Bosque, but he demands greater focus and intensity. Spain’s have a more intense cadence in their actions: they are doing more and better things in less time. That is because of Julen.

dpa: Spain could put together three or four first-rate teams.

Queiroz: My poor friend Lopetegui! Every manager has their ghosts. Lopetegui’s ghost is about who to leave out. My ghost is about who to put on the team. They seem the same, but they are very different things. I have five national team strikers and I need to pick one or two. Spain has that problem in every position.

dpa: Who is, according to you, Spain’s most fascinating player?

Queiroz: There is one I hope will not be there: a player called inspiration. They may all be there, but not inspired. If they are all inspired, that is one more player I need to keep in check. Spain are a fantastic team who have control, tactical culture and confidence. I love Silva, Isco, Fabregas, Iniesta. Don’t tell me Iniesta is going to keep playing a few more years! He could be in Qatar, enjoying his retirement, but he is set to play another World Cup.

dpa: And how do you see Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal?

Queiroz: Portugal changed their mindset at the Euro final, when they got out of a bind like Cristiano’s injury. Portugal shook off their stigma by winning without Cristiano. Let me give you an example: I was in Brazil when Neymar missed the 7-1 game against Germany. A stigma emerged. Brazil’s great mistake was to start the game with an excuse in their pocket. “If we win, that’s great, we won without Neymar. But if we don’t win, it doesn’t matter because we don’t have Neymar.” Everything around the game against Germany was an excuse. Everything was set up to say, “Neymar wasn’t there.” That cannot happen to a team like Brazil, Portugal or Germany. It is awful for a team to live with a dependency stigma. Portugal have got rid of that stigma, and now they can enjoy themselves with or without Cristiano.

dpa: Is Ronaldo’s obsession with scoring goals a good thing?

Queiroz: That is a characteristic of all the great players I have coached: an obsession to be the best every day. Perhaps Cristiano shows that more clearly with regard to goals, but they all do it in their own way. Great players are always at a level that is above what the match requires. Having a player like that, who is always at a high level, is a guarantee. It is like having a blank check in every game. They are always there, whatever happens.