Winger Jonas Gutierrez reveals double dream

Sep 30 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

Ryan Taylor has slotted in seamlessly on the right of midfield and looks to be coming good after being burned by his baptism of fire in United’s relegation season. But Taylor is out for tonight’s visit

of Championship form side QPR and Gutiérrez is hoping to make the most of an unexpected first-team reprieve.

“I can’t wait to be on the pitch again. It was a long time out because it was a muscle injury. It was a month out and it was difficult to watch the matches in the stands or on television. Now I just want to play,” he said.

“The players have done very well. It is good that I have a fight to get my place back because it means we have a very good team and the squad is a very high level.”

Life in the Championship has been an eye opener for Gutiérrez, who many expected to leave after United’s dismal relegation.

To his credit, the Argentinian was not one of the players who actively agitated for a move away and, although he admits United’s creative players have been ‘targeted’ in a lower division, the prospect of further punishment does not worry him.

“It is physical, technically it is less than the Premier League but all the matches are hard, more especially the ones away from home,” he said.

“We have not been rattled by any bullies. We know it is big for a lot of teams to play against us because we are the biggest club in the championship. They run a lot and give everything.

“Maybe the game after they play against Newcastle, they are very tired because they give so much agianst us. They work so hard and run so much – and we are prepared for that.”