Former Real Madrid coach Carlos Queiroz says he was misled by the club and wishes he had left in January after the club failed to honour their pledge to strengthen the squad.
Queiroz, who was sacked last week, believes the club would have enjoyed a more successful season had president Florentino Perez opted to retain several key players at the start of the season.
“I made my biggest mistake in January,” Queiroz told Spanish sports daily Marca.
“I should have left when we were leading the league and doing well in the Cup and the Champions League. Maybe if I had gone then Real might not have ended the season as they did.”
Queiroz blamed the Madrid’s poor season on the club’s disastrous transfer policy.
“I asked that Morientes be allowed to stay and I am convinced that with him in the squad alongside Geremi, Makelele and Milito then Real would have ended up with one or two trophies.”
“If you were promised a car with air conditioning, four wheels, leather seats and metallic paint and you were then given one without any of that how would you feel?”
Queiroz dismissed claims by Perez that he lacked sufficient authority to run the team.
“I don’t want to lower myself to the same level as others who have not shown me any respect,” said Queiroz.
“In sporting terms things didn’t go well but that doesn’t mean we should lack courtesy or elegance. I am not going to do that because I don’t want to confuse Real Madrid with the president of the club.”
Queiroz has been linked with a return to his old job as Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Manchester United.
