RK: Mourinho is England’s Man
SUN: ROY KEANE insists Jose Mourinho is the man to sort out England’s egos — because he has got the biggest one of the lot.
The Special One last night romped away with a SunSport poll asking who you want to replace sacked boss Steve McClaren.
And Keane is adamant Mourinho is the man to sort out the big-headed stars who played out England’s Euro 2008 qualifying disaster.
While McClaren was clearly unable to deal with our supposed superstar squad, the Irish legend says he could name 20 players who need quickly cutting down to size.
Sunderland boss Keano said: “There’s a fine line between ego and confidence. There’s too many egos. Way too many.
“I could write down eight England players who have that trouble, we all could. In fact I could do 20.
“I’ve been a manager two minutes so it’s dangerous for me to say I can sort out English football — because I can’t.”
But Keano says he knows a man who can.
He added: “Mourinho would do well — he has a big ego.
“He’s a bloody good manager. He could handle the media, the egos. He would stroke the egos as he had to at Chelsea.
“He would take it away from the players. He is a clever man. A cute man. I could see him in that role for sure.”
Keane shook his head in disbelief when asked if the problems lie with England not producing enough players of international quality.
Big-heads
He said: “England’s players are as good as any players out there. They are as good as Germany or France technically.”
And Keano, 36, reckons it all boils down to attitude.
He added: “They are big-heads. They’re side-tracked by stuff away from football.
“We know which players we’re talking about. We all know their lifestyles and if it is affecting their football then there’s something wrong.
“Money does turn your head. And guys who are 22 years of age are getting £40,000 a week.
“I look back and I went down that road. You can have 100 cars but if your hunger goes, you’re in big, big trouble.
“But the buck stops with the manager and Steve will be well aware of that. Any England manager will face that — that’s why I won’t take the job.
“At Manchester United, I would speak to lads with England and I was scratching my head. I wouldn’t select players if their egos were affecting the bond between the players. The strong managers do that. Sir Alex Ferguson would do it.
“It’s not Steve McClaren’s fault when good players are constantly giving the ball away.There must be a reason.”
Keane, who worked closely with McClaren at United, added: “At club level it’s different. And because of the big egos a lot of club managers would not fancy being an international manager.
“Trying to create a club environment is difficult and the most difficult place to recreate that would be with England.
“They must have big egos because everything around them is false. It’s in front of you, whether it be magazines, newspapers, sponsorship deals.
“That’s all well and good but when it interferes in your football, you are in trouble.
“I have voiced that throughout my career. You have to draw the line from somewhere.
“Who was the last player to use public transport? You go first-class whichever way you go. It’s a bad habit to get into. You do lose touch. But I’m not having a go because you have the right to spend your money any way you like.”
Keane’s international career had more than a few ups and downs but he believes the lack of egos in the Irish set-up was key to their surprise success under Jack Charlton.
The midfielder was part of Charlton’s side that went to the 1994 World Cup in the USA.
And he added: “I just wanted to train and play football. The England players didn’t look like a happy bunch.
“We went down the road of having big drinking sessions until five or six o’clock.
“You would go for a few drinks with supporters then they’d be screaming for you at a match. In defence of England they can’t do that.
“Even the Irish set-up has changed — they have got to be back at two now! We would have a laugh on a Sunday but be ready for the Wednesday.
“The mentality now is you have to do things properly. The pressure seems to get players.
“I still have pictures of some of the nights out that I would not show to anyone. We would be locked up!”
