IRELAND AND DERBY defender Cyrus Christie has hit back after fans on social media criticised comments made in a recent interview he gave.
Speaking to The Irish Sun in an article in which he also spoke at length about taking inspiration from his uncle and former boxing star Errol, Christie was asked about his recent difficulties at Derby.
The 24-year-old has endured an injury-ridden year and has struggled for first-team football since new manager Gary Rowett took charge, starting just two games since his appointment on 14 March.
“It has been a tough season. The manager knows what I’m capable of but when a new manager comes in, you don’t fit into their style sometimes and that’s been the case.
“He’s completely different to a lot of managers I’ve had.
I’m quite an attack-based full-back and he prefers the more defensive. That’s just the way it is.
“He has to pick a team and I’m old enough and mature enough to deal with that.
“I’ll go in and adapt my game but I’m not going to change it too much because this is what I’ve made my career on.
I feel that I’m one of the best full-backs in that league and, on my day, I think I am the best.”
Christie’s comments were subsequently ridiculed by fans. One said: “You’re not even the best right back in the Derby team mate.” Another supporter quipped: “Cyrus Christie typifies what is wrong with #dcfc. An average and inconsistent player at best who thinks he’s great! Get rid.”
Clearly unhappy with the negative feedback, Christie responded with a lengthy statement on Twitter, accusing the fans in question of not reading the article properly. He added that he had “self belief” while acknowledging “not once have I stated I’m the finished article”.
Christie is currently on Ireland duty, with most pundits expecting him to start in place of the injured Seamus Coleman for next week’s vital qualifier against Austria.
— Cyrus Christie (@cyruschristie) June 3, 2017
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