Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has defended his assistant Carlos Queiroz over his row with Sporting Lisbon.
A row has been brewing for the last two weeks between Queiroz and Sporting chairman Filipe Soares Franco, who took exception to comments by the Portuguese coach in praise of midfielder Miguel Veloso.
"It is unfortunate the president has said this and it is more unfortunate that he has chosen Carlos as his target," said the United boss. "Carlos is not in the field of doing these things. His behaviour is impeccable and I feel the president should retract his comments.
"We have a good relationship with Sporting Lisbon and we do not want it destroyed. But what the president has said is totally unfair."
Queiroz had already confirmed United had no interest in signing Veloso, a view backed up by Ferguson.
"We are not interested in him and we never have been," said the Scot.
"But our relationship with Sporting Lisbon has been very good for five years now. We approached them about Cristiano Ronaldo, we sat down and we did a deal. We did the same with Nani.
"Why should we bother about tapping a player we are not interested in?"
