England´s problems won´t go away warns McClaren

Steve McClaren has warned Fabio Capello that England's problems won't disappear overnight.

The former national coach knows exactly how Capello feels as the Italian struggles to produce a winning team with English football's underachieving stars.

Capello, a proven success at AC Milan, Real Madrid and Juventus, was expected to transform England's fortunes when he succeeded McClaren last year in the aftermath of the team's failure to qualify for Euro 2008.

But there has been no obvious improvement so far and Capello's side were booed off at Wembley after a lacklustre 2-2 draw against the Czech Republic last week.

McClaren, who was also Sven Goran Eriksson's assistant during England's 2006 World Cup campaign, is convinced there are deep-rooted problems surrounding the team that even Capello may not be able to master immediately.

“Of course I know the problems. They will not go away. I have documented the problems before, and if you have an hour, I could document them again,” he said.

“I had great affinity with England for seven years, I don't like the reactions and I know the problems an England manager has, more than anyone else and people are finding that out now.

“Again, it is an over-reaction to a defeat. I experienced that and we are experiencing it again, but England have one of the top managers in the world in Capello and I wish them good luck in the qualifiers.

“But England is not my problem any more. The only thing I am worried about or bothered about is being successful with FC Twente.

“They have given me an opportunity to work in Holland at a good club with good people and I want to pay them back.”

McClaren left the England job dubbed the “wally with the brolly” after sheltering under an umbrella during his side's decisive defeat against Croatia.

Even though he is now in charge of Dutch club FC Twente, McClaren has been unable to escape ridicule.

Footage of an interview with Dutch television in which he speaks with a Dutch twang to his accent has become a big hit on the internet, but the former Middlesbrough manager laughed off the public's scorn.

“Well at least I am speaking English. It is just the way it is here (in Holland). It is so Dutch people can understand,” he said.