Real Madrid legend and former Blackburn Rovers defender Michel Salgado has been playing in a futsal tournament in India, along with some other big football names.
Salgado is the captain of Kochi in Premier Futsal, a compertition also featuring Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Cafu, and Hernan Crespo.
Kochi made a remarkable comeback to draw 3-3 against Chennai today in the final match of the group stage to qualify for the semi-finals.
Shorty after the match, Salgado had a quick chat with Sport Witness about Sam Allardyce’s appointment as the next England manager.
The 40-year-old believes Allardyce deserves the chance to manage a better group of players, and has proved himself with smaller teams in England.
He said: “I think England gave the chance to so many managers in the past. I think the job he has done with some teams in England is fantastic. I know many fans don’t agree with his appointment, but to be honest he knows what to do when it comes to the Premier League.
“He knows how to get the result, so I think he deserves a chance unlike other managers who were given a chance in the past. He has been doing a great job with different teams in England.
“He did well at Blackburn Rovers without money, then we’re talking about Sunderland. At West Ham, he took them back to the Premier League and then finished at a great position. He also did a great job at Bolton, so I think he deserves to work with better quality players.
“I’m really happy for him. I have to show gratitude to him because he gave me a chance to play in the Premier League when I was 34. He gave me the opportunity to experience an amazing league.”
Salgado says he is yet to talk to Allardyce, as the manager has been in talks, but is going to contact him soon.
He added: “I haven’t talked to him yet because he is in the middle of negotiations. He has been really silent in the last week, and probably he is going to be appointed in a short while.
“I’ll obviously get in touch with him, especially to congratulate him, because I know that appointment means so much to him after working in the Premier League. After working in the Premier League for so many years, he has never been given the chance to go for something bigger.”
Salgado’s team will now face Goa in the semi-finals on Saturday, whilst Ryan Giggs’ team Mumbai will battle it out against Crespo’s Kolkata.
