Blues starting to get found out: Queiroz

CARLOS QUEIROZ believes Manchester United’s Premiership rivals are finally starting to recognise that Chelsea are not invincible after all.

Jose Mourinho’s men barely dropped a point during the first half of the campaign, being held to just a single draw at Everton in addition to their loss at Old Trafford in November.

In recent weeks though, Chelsea’s form has been decidedly patchy.

A 3-0 hammering at Middlesbrough last month was part of a run that brought them just two wins from six games and Barcelona were too good for them in the Champions League.

Even Chelsea’s recent victories over relegation-threatened Portsmouth and West Brom have been unconvincing.

So, while Queiroz is not predicting any great dramatic change in fortune during this season’s title race, he does believe attitudes in the top flight are changing. “We didn’t have to wait for Chelsea to play Barcelona to realise they are not invincible because we played them once this season already and beat them,” said Queiroz.

“But, watching Chelsea over the last four or five games, it seems other teams are beginning to think they can do something against them too.”

Without a Chelsea catastrophe, United’s purpose for the remainder of the campaign will be to try to secure second place and automatic Champions League qualification.

By the standards of past seasons, runners-up spot would still be judged a failure. But Queiroz feels fans must also accept the wider picture, which depicts a campaign blighted by injury.

“When you think about the expectations of a great club like Manchester United, we are not happy,” he said. “We want more, the fans want more and we think we can do more.

“But you have to look at the situation realistically. We started the season with 24 players, yet for six or seven games, we only had 12 or 13 to choose from.

“We would like to have done better but when you take everything into consideration, if we can get a minimum 28 points from our remaining 11 games we will still have had a good season.”

Tomorrow’ visit of Newcastle could provide a telling clue over Ruud van Nistelrooy’s current position in the Red Devils striking hierarchy.

Van Nistelrooy was left on the bench for both recent meetings with Wigan. However, an outing against the in- form Magpies would normally be an occasion to relish for Van Nistelrooy, seen that 11 of his 148 Red Devils strikes have come against Newcastle.

“We will take into consideration all details that can help us win on Sunday,” said Queiroz, who admitted Van Nistelrooy was not entirely content with the present situation.

“The great players and great champions all want to play and perform and serve their clubs.

“I see nothing wrong with that. It is what all players at Manchester United should be doing.”