Alex Ferguson made a staunch defence of Carlos Queiroz at the weekend and yesterday it was the turn of the Manchester United manager's increasingly prominent sidekick to speak for himself.

Making no apologies for bringing a more defensive approach to the club, the Portuguese assistant took a leaf out of the George Graham manual of management by stating that United should pick up the habit of winning more matches 1-0.

Queiroz's role at Old Trafford has become so extensive it might be a more accurate description of his job to call him joint manager. With the extra responsibilities - tactics, training and, increasingly, media duties - has come criticism from many supporters that he has brought conservative ploys to a club once famed for a spirit of adventure. Queiroz, however, is unruffled by the allegations.

"We trust ourselves and we trust our strategy," he said. "If you think about last season, there were many games when Chelsea won 1-0. We know if we defend properly and keep a clean sheet there will be chances to score one goal and we can win the game. And after that win we can get another win. More wins lead to more wins and when you have a couple of 1-0 wins they start to become two, three or four. This is the story of the game."

However, it is difficult to believe United's fans will accept that as a reasonable view when Ferguson and Queiroz have at their disposal three of the world's most penetrative players in Wayne Rooney, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Queiroz is behind the 4-3-2-1 system implemented to prolong Roy Keane's playing career at the club, leading to fewer goals conceded and scored, and fuelling the argument United are no longer the Premiership's great entertainers.

Supporters want a return to the swashbuckling ways of old rather than those of a tactician who last month stated that "the final product is to defend well, avoid goals. If we need to defend with 10 players behind the ball, we are going to do that. Those results when you score three, four, five goals, they don't come often."

Yesterday he returned to the subject. "All great winning teams, attacking teams, they have a defensive approach. Look at the Chicago Bulls in basketball. They were the best attacking team in the league yet they won all their trophies in terms of their defensive approach to the game. The more you defend and the better you defend, the easier it is to attack."

Asked about Rio Ferdinand's recent erratic performances, he added: "I disagree in terms of an individual criticism but in terms of collective defensive work, we can improve and be more dominant."

Ten points behind Chelsea already, United face the champions on Sunday week and Queiroz issued a defiant message. "If there is one team that has the duty and the obligation to open (up) the championship it is Manchester United. We still have six points to play for with Chelsea and if we perform as we expect then (it) will be open again."

Before then, however, they are coming to terms with some more bad news as Louis Saha has been ruled out of tonight's League Cup tie with Barnet. Having struggled with a recurrent knee injury, the Frenchman has now damaged a hamstring. "I have had so many injuries since I joined United that I need to make sure everything is exactly right before I start playing for the first team again," he said.