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McClaren says pressure on Arsenal
Theo Ruizenaar
Reuters
Wednesday 7 August 2008
Former England manager Steve McClaren,
whose new club Twente Enschede face Arsenal in the Champions
League qualifiers next Wednesday, said all the pressure
would be on the London side.
McClaren joined the Dutch club in June, making his
return to football after being sacked as England manager
following their failure to qualify for Euro 2008.
"The pressure is on Arsenal not on us," he
told reporters as he prepared for the first leg of the
third round tie.
"My team has shown it is capable of qualifying.
It has shown its qualities. These just need to be there
against Arsenal...as long as we prepare right, work
as a team, and get some luck, which is the most important,
then who knows."
McClaren said had enjoyed his first six weeks at the
club in the east of the Netherlands and the insight
it had given him into Dutch football culture.
He said he had been impressed by the team spirit shown
in Twente fourth-place finish last season and made it
clear maintaining that would be his first priority.
McClaren added he had enjoyed working with players
on a daily basis -- something he missed whilst away
from club football.
"In international football
you get the players very infrequently, and only for
a few days. To work day in day out with these players
has been for me the most rewarding."
Twente will be appearing in the
Champions League for the first time and face a tough
task against Arsenal, Champions League finalists in
2006 and quarter-finalists last season. But McClaren
said generally low expectations of his team would spur
them on.
"The draw could have been kinder in terms of football
we know that.. but for the spectators it will be momentous."
Asked how he had recovered mentally since his departure
from the England job, McClaren said: "By getting
back to work, by coming here."
"I always wanted to coach abroad," he said,
adding that former England manager Bobby Robson, who
twice managed Dutch side PSV Eindhoven, had advised
him to go to the Netherlands and had told him he would
enjoy it.
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