Owen - popularity not an issue

Midfielder focussed on job in hand

By Peter Fraser - EXCLUSIVE   Last updated: 7th May 2008

England Owen hargreaves Manchester United Carlsberg

Hargreaves: Unconcerned by critics

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Owen Hargreaves insists he is unconcerned by popularity stakes as long as he is doing his job for England.

Hargreaves, who has earned 41 internationals caps, has been forced to win over the critics during his England career after making his debut against Holland seven years ago.

The Calgary-born Manchester United ace - who could also have represented Canada, or Germany due to the time he spent with former club Bayern Munich - was hailed as the answer to England's former problem area on the left of midfield when he burst onto the scene in 2001, but inconsistent form and doubts about his international eligibility saw him targeted by boo-boys.

Hargreaves now appears to have proved his doubters wrong after a productive run of form in a favoured central midfield role, but the 27-year-old insists he was never affected by speculation over his position on the international stage.

Bandwagon

"I'm not out there to please everyone in the world," Hargreaves - who was the only England player to sample success in the quarter-final penalty shoot-out defeat to Portugal at the 2006 World Cup - told skysports.com.

"Sometimes people like you and sometimes they don't. It is not my responsibility to please everyone. I have learnt that in my time.

"The most important thing is that my team-mates and my coaches are happy with me and, if they are, I will play.

"People should form their own opinion and a lot of the time people just jump on the bandwagon and don't form their own opinion."

Disappointment

Meanwhile, Hargreaves has admitted his disappointment that England will not be present at this summer's Euro 2008 finals after they failed to book a place in Austria and Switzerland following an unsuccessful qualifying campaign.

"As a player you always want to measure yourself against the best and obviously the European Championships is one of those occasions," Hargreaves added.

"Not to be able to be there is a disappointment for any player."

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Comments

Yahya Ali isa (Liverpool fan) says...

Yes he's absolutely right ..! he doesnt have to answer to the customers he's got a job for his club and country. he gets his feedback from the management and the oranisation he gets paid by them therefor answers to them. Fans spend there hard earned money to support not critisize! the media dont help either.

Posted 18:33 7th May 2008

Stephen Collett (Arsenal fan) says...

Owen Hargreaves is a cultured player who plays the game the way it should be played...sensibly! His positional play is superb, timing and tackling good and has the knack just generally holding teams together just by simply being in the right place at exactly the right time. The glue every team needs...especially mine right now. Come on you gunners next year!!

Posted 16:43 7th May 2008

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