Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew is relaxed that Joey Barton is such an outspoken person, claiming that is what his character is all about. The 28-year-old told French magazine So Foot that he was the best English midfield player and that he will not sign a new contract for his club until they prove their ambition.
Pardew told BBC Newcastle: "Joey is an opinionated person and that isn't a problem for me."
And Pardew said of his skipper's impressive season: "He's striking the ball, he's connecting with the ball so well that he's a problem for the opposition."
His manager believes that the Newcastle captaincy is a fitting reward.
"He does deserve it for the performance and the discipline he's shown," said Pardew.
And Pardew has been impressed by Barton: "It's off the pitch that Joey has corrected a lot of what was wrong with him as a professional footballer."
Barton's recent comments have not changed the manager's opinion.
"On the other side of it, if you had people without opinions, without that maverick streak then you wouldn't have talented individuals," he added.
"You wouldn't have Eric Cantona, you wouldn't have George Best - some of these players, their make-up is that individualism."
