Barthez respects Ferguson’s decision to drop him
Currently in Clairefontaine with France, who play a Euro 2004 qualifier against Cyprus tomorrow, Barthez maintains he is not concerned by his lack of first-team action at Old Trafford and insists there is no rift between him and his manager.
“For me, there are no problems with my club,” Barthez said. “I have had no explanation from Ferguson, we haven’t spoken about anything and I don’t feel I need to speak with him.
“People say that we don’t get on well but that is absolutely wrong. We get on very well.”
The 32-year-old 1998 World Cup winner and Euro 2000 champion has been sidelined by the Premiership champions and replaced by young American Tim Howard.
But he said: “I’m 32, I still want to play football, but that is the way it is.
“My current situation is I play for a great club, I respect my coach 200%, he trusted me and protected me.
“What do you want me to do? To shout? I actually don’t feel any injustice or frustration.
“I don’t have to ask him why I am sidelined. If I don’t play it is because he has his own reasons.
“He makes his decisions. I have nothing to say, he is the boss.
“I am on excellent terms with him and the rest of the staff at United.
“You know, in a football player’s career there are ups and downs. Not playing is not a catastrophe for me. A catastrophe would be to have health problems or a broken leg.”
Barthez, who became a father for the first time at the end of June, insists his experience as a footballer allows him to stand back and realise there are more important things in life.
“I have been experiencing fantastic things with football in the past 10 years and maybe it is better to let go sometimes,” he added.
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