England manager Steve McClaren has slammed suggestions of a player revolt ahead of his country’s European Championship qualifier with Macedonia at Old Trafford on Saturday.
According to a report in the Daily Mirror, influential members of McClaren’s squad are unhappy about the introduction of a new 3-5-2 formation and want to use the more familiar 4-4-2 system, which has earned them six points from the first two qualifying games.
Despite spending the past two days training in the Terry Venables-inspired 3-5-2 formation, a meeting was reputedly arranged for Thursday night at the England hotel in which the players expressed their reservations.
But on Friday McClaren strongly denied such a meeting took place and said the report had tarnished the build-up to his fourth game in charge of his country.
”It really disappoints me to read the headline in a certain newspaper this morning,” said McClaren. ”The players do not pick the team. It disappoints me to read that the players have had a meeting.
”The players did not have a meeting, they do not pick the team. I hate anything that hampers any preparation to a game.”
McClaren, however, refused to rule out adopting a 3-5-2 system against a Macedonia team ranked 51st in the world.
”We have to look at different ways,” the England coach added.
”We’ve had two sessions with 3-5-2 and it’s a system we can go to.
”We’ve got the players to use that system and who are very comfortable at using that system. It’s something we may use in the future. I said at the beginning that we will try different things. We won’t be static in our formation. We’ve already proved we can play 4-4-2.
”We may see 3-5-2 this weekend, next Wednesday against Croatia or in the future.”
The match is likely to mark the return of Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney from a three-match suspension following his dismissal in England’s World Cup quarterfinal defeat to Portugal in the summer.
Should, as expected, he win his 34th cap, Rooney, who turns 21 later this month, is expected to receive a warm reception from the Old Trafford crowd as he looks to end a worrying goal drought for his country.
Rooney has not scored a competitive goal for his country since netting twice in a 4-2 win over Croatia at Euro 2004.
He goes into the game with his form and temperament under the spotlight. However, McClaren says he has no need to have a quiet word in Rooney’s ear before the game.
”I talk to the team as a whole about their responsibilities,” added McClaren. ”I’ve no need to talk to him about discipline.”
England are seeking their second win over Macedonia in five weeks after Peter Crouch’s goal proved enough to seal victory in Skopje last month.
Despite victory, McClaren said he was not entirely happy with his side’s attitude during the game.
”Yes, it was a great result in Skopje,” he said. ”The performance and certain aspects were very good, the defending was excellent. But we need to play better football.
”At times when we go 1-0 up we’ve got to push forward and not sit back.
”That’s something I have discussed with the players because for the last 15 minutes in Macedonia we sat back.
”It was a great result, but we can do better.”
England are without midfielder Owen Hargreaves, while Everton striker Andy Johnson has also been forced to pull out due to a hamstring problem. Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips is on standby to make a rare start for his country. — Sapa-AFP