Brian Kidd has hit out at the Manchester City snipers taking "cheap shots" at the Premier League title winners.
Spirit cannot be questioned insists Roberto Mancini's assistant
Brian Kidd has hit out at the Manchester City snipers taking "cheap shots" at the Premier League title winners.
The City assistant manager has admitted it annoys him when the media paint a picture of discontent at the Etihad Stadium.
The likes of Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli have hit the headlines for the wrong reasons this season but Kidd views the criticism as ill-informed.
"The thing that gets on my nerves is when they start having a go at our players," he told the
Daily Star Sunday.
"If a player is not in the team you don't want them going around acting like Happy Larry, do you?
"The lads want to be in the team, which is natural. So if they're a bit moody you've got to have empathy towards them.
"I have got great belief and great trust in this squad. And I couldn't believe it when the critics came out about the spirit and camaraderie or whatever.
"I have been brought up with the view that whatever is going on in your house stays there. So where I was born and bred you are going to turn around and say, 'Hey, shut up, I will deal with it in my household'.
Crazy
"Why did they have to come out with these stupid, silly things just to get their names in the press. What is it? It's crazy.
"Unless you are working every minute of every day with these players then you can't give an opinion.
"I couldn't give an opinion on what's going on at Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Sunderland, Newcastle, Crewe or Crawley Town.
"I don't think you can be so judgmental and, let's be honest, what the hell has it got to do with what's going on at any other club in the Premier League?
"What's it got to do with them? Absolutely nothing. It's like a family, you deal with your family indoors.
"But when you go outside you protect your family. If anyone has a go you say, 'Hey shut up'. Right?
"Nobody will be respected when you go out and start calling your own brothers and sisters. Or your mum and dad. No chance."
The 62-year-old believes City are now targets for jealous outsiders but insists the team spirit within the camp cannot be questioned.
"People have been constantly taking cheap shots at us," added Kidd. "The people who question the spirit here are outsiders. They just don't know.
"I haven't got a clue what goes on at any other club so I don't comment on them. Yet two months ago they questioned the spirit of the squad.
"There's been some talented players in the stands for games, let alone the bench.
"If you see them supporting one another on match days and in training, nobody would be questioning the camaraderie.
"But if there was any doubt you only had to see it on Sunday against QPR to answer that.
Argument
"And if you want to have a fight or an argument you can have it at a club every day. That's any football club in the country.
"Has anyone never had an argument in their family? No, they cannot question the spirit and camaraderie here at City.
"Some people, too, are unhappy about the money that's been spent. But I'm sad to say that modern football is about money.
"What Sheikh Mansour and chairman Khaldoon have done is fast-tracked this club.
"The manager has to take every accolade but no one will become complacent here.
"People are talking about creating a dynasty but all I know is that we won the FA Cup last season and now we're the champions."
Kidd finds himself in an unusual position having played for and been an assistant manager for both Manchester City and Manchester United.
But he will not be bragging despite getting one over on his old colleague Sir Alex Ferguson.
"I was brought up with the bigger picture," said Kidd, who scored in the 1968 European Cup final for United and was assistant when the club won the first ever Premier League title in 1993.
"I was brought up with a bit of modesty and humility. When you win things you have got to be extra humble. That's the key to it."
