Blues boss Mick McCarthy says he won’t be pinning Norwich striker Nelson Oliveira’s derogatory comments regarding Town on the dressing room wall ahead of Sunday’s derby, joking that perhaps he’d pin the Portuguese international up instead. McCarthy added that he’s all for the derby atmosphere being stirred up and is hoping for a rip-roaring game on Sunday.
Speaking at the weekend, Oliveira, 26, said Norwich were a "better club” with "better players” than the Blues.
"Let’s get me embroiled in that one!” McCarthy laughed when asked about the comments.
"He obviously has a wide knowledge of the Championship and he’s been around for so long in England that he knows all that, doesn’t he?
"Look, it’s his opinion. But opinions are like backsides, it’s not always wise to air them in public.
"He’s only stirring the game up, and I think we should stir it up, let’s have a right rip-roaring derby on Sunday, it would be great.”
He added: "But Nelson Oliveira’s comment [isn’t what makes it] a ‘proper derby’. He probably revs fans up but he doesn’t rev me up, it’s just a footballer’s opinion, an opinion that’s probably not that educated either in terms of the East Anglian clubs. It can’t be.”
So he won’t be pinning Oliveira’s comment up on the dressing room wall ahead of the game?
"No, maybe pin him up on the dressing room wall, howsabout that!" McCarthy joked.
"Your job [in the media] is to create a really good atmosphere and get both sets of fans, managers, players and coaches talking about it and to get a quote. I guess I’ve given you one there anyway.
"But talking doesn’t really upset me at all or get me riled up, even as a player when somebody said something. I hated them all anyway when I played, it didn’t matter. I disliked everybody when I played. They didn’t have to rev me up and I don’t think they should.
"But if anything that’s said or done between now and Sunday gets a little bit extra out of my players I’ll be thrilled by it.”