Alex McLeish talks about Michel's tough time at Birmingham City

Oct 27 2010 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

ALEX McLeish has admitted Michel has a ‘thankless task’ at Birmingham City.

But he stressed the Spanish midfielder still remained an important member of his squad.

Michel has been touted for a loan move to Real Mallorca in January but McLeish wouldn’t discuss such a prospect – although he was fairly cagey and didn’t rule it out entirely.

Blues pursued Michel for months before finally securing him from Sporting Gijon in a £3 million deal during the winter transfer window.

Because he has effectively been designated Barry Ferguson’s heir apparent, he has hardly had a sniff because of the players’ player-of-the-season’s consistent form.

“It is a bit of a thankless task for Michel because he was the captain of Sporting Gijon and we saw him play really well against the Real Madrids and Barcelonas of this world,” McLeish told the Birmingham Mail.

“But Ferguson’s form has been exceptional and I’ve not devised a system where I can get the two of them into the same team.