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Blame the team, not Steve McClaren, Ferdinand says

Rio Ferdinand has jumped to the defense of embattled England manager Steve McClaren, insisting he is "doing all he can" to try to find a solution to England's problems.

Defender Ferdinand said that the team and not the manager are at fault as they head to Barcelona for today's Euro 2008 qualifier bidding to end a five-game winless run against minnows Andorra.

"I think, even before the boss came in, we weren't consistently playing to our capabilities, to our potential," he said.

"Many of these players in the squad could walk into any other team in Europe -- if not the world -- but we've not been able to do that over a consistent period," Ferdinand said.

"The manager we've got now is doing all he can to find the answers to all the questions that arise from Sven-Goran Eriksson's era and his own period [in charge]. But the players have got to take some responsibility as well. The manager can do it any way he wants but if we're not performing right then it's not going to happen," he said.

"I think a lot of us haven't been performing how we perform for our clubs. It's been, here and there, high-class performances from individuals but not as a collective team. The first half against Sweden in the opening group of the World Cup last summer was a great performance, but, other than that, there hasn't been a stand-up performance," Ferdinand said.

McClaren's days as England manager appeared numbered on Monday as he was forced to deny reports of a rift in his relationship with Wayne Rooney against a background of claims he could be sacked for a cut-price ?2.5 million (US$4.9 million).

According to media reports, Rooney was allegedly angered by McClaren's decision to single him out for criticism in the dressing room inquest after Saturday's goalless draw with Israel.

Rooney reportedly responded by throwing his boots and kit at the wall in frustration and the argument was so loud it could be heard in the neighboring Israel dressing room.

"What happens in the dressing room is private and I don't discuss that," McClaren said on Monday. "But a rift between me and Wayne Rooney is absolutely ridiculous.

"The belief and togetherness of the squad and the staff has never been better," he said.

It emerged on Monday that McClaren's contract, which runs until 2010, includes a clause which allows him to be dismissed in return for a severance payment equivalent to one year's salary.
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