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Steve McManaman: Liverpool need more creative players

You played for Liverpool and Real Madrid. Who’s your money on tomorrow night?

I fancied Liverpool as soon as the draw was made. English teams are too strong for everyone else at the moment. I’ll stick my neck out and say Man United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal are going to go through.

So you’re supporting Liverpool?

Definitely. I know the manager and a few of the players and I spent 15 years there. It’s my club and I still live in the city. Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing Real do well, but not when they’re playing Liverpool.

What about when Everton are playing Liverpool?

That’s a funny one because I grew up supporting Everton and they wanted me to sign for them when I was a kid, but Liverpool made it really clear that they were desperate to get me. Kenny Dalglish came to see me, so I couldn’t say no. I’ve got Evertonians in my family so I love to see them do well, but not against Liverpool.

Q&A Marcus Trescothick

Forget about cricket. Are you really an honorary vice-president of Bristol City?

I sure am. I was awarded it in recognition of England winning the Ashes in 2005. It means I get tickets to games, but I don’t get down to Ashton Gate as much as I’d like because I’m always playing cricket.   

Were you at the Coca-Cola Championship play-offs final at Wembley in May?

I was supposed to be, but Somerset were playing Kent at Tunbridge Wells that day. Kent were nine wickets down at ten to 12, so I thought I was going to get to Wembley for the kick-off at 3pm, but Kent clung on until ten to 2, so I had to follow the game on my laptop all the way home.   

You didn’t miss much.

Exactly. I’m still gutted about the result. One game away from the Premier League and we lose to Hull.   

Did you play football when you were a kid?

I was always cricket-mad, but I played a bit of football at school – I was a goalkeeper. I’m a bit too chunky for professional football.   

Were any of the England players into football?

Steve Harmison is a massive Newcastle fan and Paul Collingwood is a big Sunderland fan. Michael Vaughan was into Sheffield Wednesday and Manchester United.   

Kevin Pietersen?

He’s not massively into football, so he’s probably a Chelsea fan.   

What has the reaction been to your book,  Coming Back to Me?   

It’s been very positive. I’ve had lots of e-mails and letters from people who have experienced the same problems that I have. It’s always been a taboo subject, so writing about it has helped to get it out into the open.   

How did your England teammates deal with your stress-related illness?

They didn’t really know the full extent of it because I kept it quite quiet. I didn’t want to open up or leave myself open to ridicule.   

Have you definitely ruled out playing for England again?

I retired in February and that’s it. I think the fire has gone out.   

Finally, how good did it feel to stuff the Aussies?

It was the best feeling in the world, but to be fair to them they were very gracious. They were very sporting and I learnt a lot about how you should react when you lose.

Interview by Kaveh Solhekol

QA: Stuart Pearce

Theo Walcott, Ashley Young, Fraizer Campbell, John Bostock – there isn’t much wrong with youth development in England, is there?
The problem we have is that we blow everyone up out of all proportion and put so much pressure on them it’s unbelievable. There is good, young English talent in this country but it needs to be coached and nurtured.

Are other countries ahead of us?
I saw a lot of games at Euro 2008 and I didn’t see anything that scared me. With the pool of players we have we will always be able to compete. In 1994 we didn’t qualify for the World Cup finals in America and two years later we nearly won Euro 1996.

QA: Fernando Torres

Euro 2008 wallchart

Guillem Balague spoke to Fernando Torres about the striker’s future at Liverpool after a season of personal triumph but collective disappointment ...

GB: What do you have to say regarding a possible bid from Chelsea?

FT: I want to say very clearly that I’m not on the market and it is my desire to continue at Liverpool. I’m very happy at Liverpool and I want to carry on.

GB: Did you fulfil your objectives last season? The statistics were spectacular: you were the most prolific Liverpool striker since Robbie Fowler. What is next?

FT: I was successful in not having a problem with adapting, because that had been worrying me. However, as a collective we didn’t meet our objectives. I came here to win trophies. In any case, I have many years left on my contract and I expect to win some silverware. I’ve gone through things I’d never experienced before, like playing in a Champions League semi-final, and now that I’ve come within touching distance of glory I want it all.

GB: You used to follow the Premier League on television, but playing in it is another thing altogether.

FT: I came knowing what to expect, but on many occasions the intensity can still be overwhelming. I’ve also discovered that defending is more complicated than in Spain because, even though you know how your opponent plays, it’s difficult to stop them when the ball spends so much time in the air and there are so few tactics. This style of play cost us a lot of points and in the end we were unable to compete with the clubs at the top.

GB: Steven Gerrard has said that it is down to the club to make every effort to improve upon last season.

FT: I totally agree. In order to compete with Manchester United and Chelsea, if we can’t keep up with them economically then we have to get it absolutely right in the transfer market. It’s clear that they have a lot of £20 million or £25 million players and that difference is what separates us in the league table. I hope that the club does what needs to be done and we can quickly catch them up.

GB: Would you be so bold as to predict who is going to be the player of Euro 2008?

FT: I hope it will be someone from the Spanish side. I think it’s going to be Cesc Fàbregas. The rest of the world is going to find out that he is one of the best players in the world. In England, we already know that.

Read the full interview and Iván Campo’s farewell letter to Bolton Wanderers fans on guillembalague.com

QA: Brian Little

What went wrong for Wrexham last season?

The bottom line is that we weren’t good enough. We lost our place in the Football League for the first time in 87 years but I’m trying not to look back. This club has been at the bottom of League Two for the past three seasons. I came here last November. We were on a downward spiral before I got here, but we’ll be back.

Twelve years ago you were managing Aston Villa at Wembley — are you ready for Woking, Weymouth and Histon next season?

If I was worried about my CV I wouldn’t have taken the job. I knew that we could go down when I came here. It would have been easy to say no. Non-league football is going to be a great challenge but I’m confident that we’ll be competitive next season if I can bring the right players into the club. We’ll be back. Other clubs have gone down and come back stronger.

Cardiff City got to the FA Cup Final, Swansea City were promoted — has that made going down even worse?

We’d like to be a Welsh success story as well but it’s not going to happen overnight. This is a great club, now we just need a good team.

Has this been the toughest season of your life?

I’ve worked in all four divisions. Villa were in trouble when I went there, Darlington were in trouble when I went there, Leicester City were in trouble when I went there. Football takes over your life but I’ve got a wife and two young sons and they help me to keep things in perspective.

Are you still into your motorbikes?

I’ve still got my Honda Blackbird but I haven’t been out on it much recently because one of my knees is a bit sore.

What is the worst job you have had?

I tried my hand in the printing business — a mate of mine had a printing business and I thought I’d give it a go, designing logos and stationery and selling paper, but it didn’t quite work out.

Where would you most like to live?

I always fancied retiring to the sunshine in Spain, somewhere on the Costa del Sol, but first we’ve got to get Wrexham back into the league. It’s going to be hard work but I’m up for it and the players will be as well.

Interview by KAVEH SOLKEHOL

QA: Martin Tyler

What are the facilities like at the Luzhniki Stadium?

Nothing is ever perfect for commentators, but we’ll be OK. I was here for the England game last year so I know what to expect.

How much preparation do you have to do before a game?

An enormous amount. I always try to find a new angle or an interesting statistic. It will be hard this time because everyone knows the two teams so well, but that’s also why the game is so intriguing.

QA: Georgia Horsley (Miss England)

Have you been out with any footballers since you became Miss England?

No.

Any of them tried it on?

No, none at all. Anyway, I prefer rugby to football and I’m very happy with my boyfriend. He’s a maths student.

So, no ambitions to become a WAG, then?

None. I’d never go out with anybody just because of their job. I did go and see York City a couple of weeks ago, though. They’re my local team. We lost 3-2 to Woking and we had three men sent off, so it was value for money, but I’m more a rugby girl. It’s more exciting to watch, it’s more violent and vicious and the players are better looking.

What is the best thing about being Miss England?

Everything. I went to Miss World in China last year and I didn’t win, but I still had a fantastic time. It was live on TV and it was the second most watched show in the world. We had to do a lot of dancing and posing and the whole thing was an absolute buzz.

Has it opened a lot of doors?

Well, I’m much more confident now and I’m modelling full time. My dream is to become a TV presenter, but I’m already dreading not being Miss England any more. I’m going to be really sad when I hand my crown over in this year’s grand final at The Troxy in Docklands on July 18.

What is the worst job you have had?

Probably cleaning the house with my sister for pocket money.

Where do you stand on the size zero debate?

I absolutely love my food. I’m a proper Yorkshire girl and I love steak, chocolate, veg — anything, really. I go to the gym when I get the time, but I’m naturally slim.

Is there anything you dislike about your appearance?

We get what we’re given. I wouldn’t change anything except maybe my legs could be a bit smoother.

Finally, have you ever met Teddy Sheringham?

No.

Interview by KAVEH SOLHEKOL

QA: Ralf Little (actor and celebrity footballer)

Which would you prefer — an Oscar or an FA Cup-winner’s medal?

That’s a really tough one. God, that’s difficult. I’ll have to go for an Oscar.

Acting or playing at Wembley — which makes you more nervous?

It’s funny, but I’ve played in quite a few celebrity matches and I never get nervous. I’ve played in front of 60,000 at Wembley, 50,000 at St James’ Park and 40,000 at Anfield, and the most nervous I ever got was when I made my semi-pro debut for Edgware Town on a Tuesday night in front of four blokes and a dog.

Who is the best celebrity player?

Angus Deayton’s not bad. He’s getting on a bit, but he understands the game and keeps it simple. Simon Jordan is decent as well. He scored a cracking volley at Wembley in a charity game last summer.

And the worst? I don’t want to name names, but there are a few celebrities who can’t play but turn up because they’ve been advised that it’s good PR. I heard Pete Doherty was a dirty player. Apparently he goes around kicking anything that moves.

When are you next in action?

Schoolboy football is back at Wembley on Saturday and I’m playing in a celebrity match between Scotland and England beforehand to raise money for the Bobby Moore Fund. Gordon Ramsay is captaining the Scots and apparently they’re in the mood for a battle.

Who was a better manager — Graham Taylor or Harry Redknapp?

One of the perks of playing in these games is that we get coached by some top managers. Graham Taylor is an absolute legend. He was so inspirational it was unbelievable. After his team talks, you felt like you could walk through a wall. Harry was a bit more laid-back, he was more like, “Well done, son. Keep it up.”

Were you really working as a barman at the Reebok Stadium when you started filming The Royle Family?

Only for about three games. My girlfriend was working there, so I did it out of solidarity. I was working in the Bolton players’ bar and I hated it. We hardly ever got a tip from any of the players. They’d order two Lucozades and a glass of wine for the missus. You’d say, “That’s nine pounds, please.” They’d give you a tenner and wait for the pound coin. Unbelievable.

Interview by KAVEH SOLKEHOL

QA: Les Ferdinand

Sir Les, where does the nickname come from?

I don't have a clue. It's not a bad nickname, though. Lots of people still call me Sir Les. I was working in Singapore last year on a TV show and someone called in and said: "Sir Les, I know you were a good player, but there are lots of other English players who deserved to be knighted before you."

QA: Phil Brown

What has been the secret of your success this season?

Better players. We only just survived in the Championship last season, but we got some fresh investment in the summer, which has helped us to go in a new direction.

Beat Queens Park Rangers on Saturday and you could be in the top two.

We’ll finish where we deserve to finish. We don’t want to start talking about promotion and the Premier League yet.

True or false — this is the worst Championship ever.

Absolute rubbish. It’s become fashionable to have a go at the Championship, but there are plenty of quality teams in this division. Three Championship teams in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, 20 teams still with something to play for. In terms of excitement you can’t get much better than that. Sure, there are some teams who use strong-arm tactics, but that’s the same in any league.

You were Sam Allardyce’s right-hand man at Bolton Wanderers. When are we going to see him back in the dugout?

He’ll be back soon. He’d become part of the fixtures and fittings at Bolton and he needed a fresh challenge. Newcastle didn’t work out, but the next club that gets him are going to be very lucky because they will be getting one of the best.

How hard was it making the transition from No 2 to No 1?

It’s been a steep learning curve. I had a bad experience at Derby, where I only lasted seven months, but I had a great apprenticeship under Sam.

Any chance of Bolton staying up?

It’s a very difficult situation. They’ve had some very poor results and they’re not scoring goals and that’s sending out the wrong message to the opposition. In Sam’s days, teams were scared of coming to Bolton. Gary Megson’s hands are tied, but I wish him all the best.

What is the worst job you have had?

Back when I was an electrician, I had some really tough outside lighting jobs on the banks of the Tyne in the wind and rain, 40 feet up a ladder.

Was that as bad as posing naked for the Hull City programme?

I got a lot of stick for that, but it was done very tastefully. I had a football as a prop, so I was amply protected.

Where would you most like to live?

At the moment I’ve got to say Hull.

Interview by KAVEH SOLHEKOL