Red Bulls defender Rafael Marquez is not to blame for the team’s poor showing this season, according to Marquez.
He pointed the finger atunspecified teammates after a pathetic 3-1 loss to Real Salt Lake at Red Bull Arena during which fans booed him whenever he touched the ball.
“I’m focusing on reallyperformance at my highest level,” said Marquez through an interpreter. “That doesn’t mean that the whole backline can perform at that same level, so that’s a problem. I think this is ateam game and unfortunately there isn’t an equal level between my teammates and me.”
Teammate Thierry Henry, also a target of fan unrest, and headcoach Hans Backe gave their support to the Mexican international, and Backe blamed two other players, Teemu Tainio andTim Ream, for mistakes that led to the first two goals.
“Unfortunately, two terrible individual mistakes changed the game,” saidBacke. Henry cited the team’s mediocre record as motivation for the fans to lash out at certain players. “It’s frustration. That’s it. I don’t have anything to say aboutit. I feel sorry for him. That’s really all I can say as a teammate. You don’t want to see that happen, but that’s all I have to say about it.”