Rift reports infuriate McClaren
Steve McClaren has accused the media of trying to create divisions in the England camp with suggestions he is at odds with assistant Terry Venables.
McClaren and Venables appeared to contradict each other over the reasons for dropping Stewart Downing for the Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia.
But the England coach hit back: \"This is getting out of hand. I won't answer any more questions on Stewart Downing.
\"Why are you trying to separate players and myself and even the staff?\"
In his Sunday newspaper column, Venables said Downing was dropped because his confidence was destroyed by criticism in the media after his performance in the 0-0 draw with Macedonia.
However, Downing said he was told by McClaren the decision was purely tactical.
The England boss insisted he had not read Venables' column and added: \"It's a private matter between me and Stewart. We've drawn a line under it.\"
And England goalkeeping coach Ray Clemence insisted McClaren and Venables are \"working very well together\".
He said: \"It is always interesting to see how they exchange ideas.\"
McClaren was also upset by criticism of Paul Robinson after the goalkeeper miskicked a Gary Neville backpass to gift Croatia their second goal in the defeat in Zagreb.
\"The criticism Paul Robinson received was ridiculous,\" said McClaren.
\"He was 90 minutes away from breaking Gordon Banks' record of clean sheets then gets personal criticism I found totally out of order.
\"I'm behind Paul Robinson. He's the number one goalkeeper.\"
Venables hits out at rift claims
Terry Venables has dismissed claims that he and England manager Steve McClaren are at odds over tactics.
Assistant coach Venables appeared to contradict McClaren over the reasons Stewart Downing did not start the Euro 2008 qualifier in Croatia last month.
McClaren has since issued his own rebuttal of the suggestions, and Venables added: \"Talk of a division between us is simply not true.
\"I just expanded on why we used 3-5-2 against Croatia. There's no problem.\"
In his newspaper column in the News of the World, Venables had said Downing was dropped because his confidence was destroyed by criticism of his performance in the 0-0 draw with Macedonia.
But McClaren told the Middlesbrough winger the decision was purely tactical.
Suggestions of a falling out angered McClaren in the build up to last week's friendly draw with Holland, prompting him to ask reporters: \"Why are you trying to separate players and myself and even the staff?\"
And Venables insists the team and staff are looking to build on the encouraging 1-1 draw in Amsterdam.
\"Yes, there is more to do - and we have to take these positives into next year when the competitive matches start again,\" he said.
\"But we were looking for evidence of a strong team building - and we got them.
\"There is closeness about the group again. It seemed as if we took a big step forward.\"
