The language barrier

Last updated : 15 February 2002 By Christian Kelly
Rupert Lowe was quick to dispel any serious problems around striker Agustin Delgado. Apart form the fact he can't communicate with many, feels that he has no respect from the club and has a recurring knee injury everything's just rosy.

As with nearly everything else in life, communication is the answer to the question. Lowe realises that if Agustin could just understand a single word he says everything will be fine. It's best Rupert does this as a conversation with Strachan will either leave him completely confused or in tears at the wee one's biting sarcasm. To that end Rupert has hit upon the brilliant idea of hiring an interpreter to help Agustin along. Super idea, but surely one that was bloody obvious the moment he joined the club. hmmm ?

Anyway aints PR guru Rupert had this to say: "Agustin has still got a problem with his knee and at the moment he's being treated by the club and he is very happy with that treatment.

"The main thing to do is concentrate on getting his knee better and I think his treatment is a matter for us to deal with.

"But we're bringing in an interpreter so that the language difference is not an issue. Jason Dodd had a similar problem with his knee last year and it does take some time for the pain from the scar tissue on the surface of the knee to clear up. But the scans that we've had so far show that the knee is improving."

Delgado's struggle to learn the language reminds Lowe of Marian Pahars' first few months in England after signing for £800,000 from Skonto Riga three years ago.

"There's no doubt that when Agustin played against Manchester United he looked an extremely talented player.

"Marian Pahars couldn't speak English when he first came over but he's absorbed the culture and has got a real sense of humour as well as being a great footballer.

"We have to try and get Agustin to overcome the cultural and language problems that he suffers and work as a management team to make sure he can give of his best.

"He obviously wants to give of his best and I think everybody can see his footballing potential, it's just a question of finding the right equation to make sure we see that out on the pitch."

"It's important that we have someone who enables Gordon to communicate with Agustin internally while he learns the language."

Oh sorry, the interpreter's for Strachan. Actually that makes much more sense...