Old ally comes to aid of England boss

Steve McClaren may be only one more bad result from having his head superimposed by a turnip but the increasingly beleaguered England manager found support from an old ally last night when Alex Ferguson attacked the media for what he perceives to be the beginnings of a "McClaren Out" campaign.

Ferguson gave McClaren his big break when he recruited him as his assistant in 1999 and the Manchester United manager has been dismayed by the way his former right-hand man has become the fox for the media's hunt.

Describing it as premature and over the top, the United manager also suggested that McClaren's players were struggling to replicate their club form at international level because they felt restricted by the prospect of strong criticism in the media.

"One of the biggest problems these days with the England job is the press themselves," said Ferguson. "What is happening now is that the England players are fearing bad performances because of the reaction in the press. I think that's having a detrimental effect on the team.

"The media think it's their duty to do what they are doing but I don't see how they are going to get any positive response from the way they treat England. Steve has not had a great deal of experience in terms of being a top manager but the job has gone to a man of fantastic potential and I think you should support him more because it would be a shame if that potential is not realised.

"Ten years from now, you might regret all this because Steve may come back to club football and do exceptionally well."

Statistically, McClaren has had a more undistinguished start to his term of employment by the Football Association than any of the 10 managers who have preceded him, but Ferguson believes his former colleague will ride out the storm if England win their Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Andorra next month.

"He can't be enjoying what's happening to him right now," he said. "Nobody enjoys criticism. But once he gets a victory it will open up for him. I have no doubts about Steve's ability, absolutely none at all."

Ferguson was similarly emphatic when it came to the latest reports from Spain that Real Madrid and Barcelona are willing to turn their long-standing interest in Cristiano Ronaldo into something more concrete at the end of the season.

Some of the stories appear to have been deliberately leaked and Ferguson is aware that it may need all his persuasive powers to convince Ronaldo to stay. However, he is confident of winning what promises to be a long and drawn-out saga.

"The better climate is an attraction but when you think about it, what you get at Old Trafford you are not going to get anywhere else," said Ferguson. "Every week, 76,000 people. I know Madrid and Barcelona can fill their grounds when they have big games, but they don't fill them every week like we do. Old Trafford is full every week and Ronaldo can fulfil everything he wants here. He's at a good club and he knows it too."

Wayne Rooney, meanwhile, has been passed fit for Manchester United's Premiership meeting with Charlton at Old Trafford today.