Hodgson - Egos not a factor

Roy Hodgson: Enjoying the privilege of leading the way for England this summer

England boss Roy Hodgson insists he has not been confronted by a dressing room full of egos this summer.

As the England manager prepares his team to face Euro 2012 co-hosts Ukraine in Donetsk on Tuesday, he took time to reflect on how much he is enjoying working with the much-criticised players.

When Hodgson was appointed as Fabio Capello's successor in May, many questioned the former West Brom manager's ability to deal with the big names in the England squad.

"When you take on a national team perhaps you take on more egos than you do in a club team. That hasn't been a factor so I suppose in that respect I'm feeling good about the job."
Roy Hodgson Quotes of the week

The 64-year-old's biggest previous job in English football had been with Liverpool and ended in failure, while the presence of influential Chelsea figure John Terry in the camp hinted at a tricky challenge ahead.

But the notion that Hodgson had inherited a group of players inclined to implode when cooped up together has proven groundless with life in Krakow reported to be a happy one.

Gone are the showdown talks of two years ago under Capello in South Africa and Hodgson is revelling in the determined atmosphere among the squad.

"I feel on a roll because I've found it such an enjoyable job," he said.

"I knew working with this group of players was going to be a privilege.

Professional

"They have gone about their business in a professional way. When you take on a national team perhaps you take on more egos than you do in a club team.

"That hasn't been a factor so I suppose in that respect I'm feeling good about the job."

Even so, the mood of optimism could easily disappear should England lose to Ukraine and find themselves eliminated.

And while Hodgson insists his players have lots more to give at Euro 2012, he is well aware it does not always work out that way.

"I am more than aware there are plenty of hurdles in front of us, not least tomorrow night," said Hodgson on Monday.

"I'm also aware, unfortunately, that defeats do occur in football and sometimes they occur when you least want them.

Naive

"We would all be disappointed if tomorrow night didn't go our way and we had to take the plane home," he said.

"There would be an enormous amount of dissatisfaction because we believe we have done enough to go on.

"We would all be disappointed if tomorrow night didn't go our way and we had to take the plane home."
Roy Hodgson Quotes of the week

"But Holland and Russia thought they could do that so it is naive to believe that just because you think you are able to do and want to do it that it will be enough.

"It's not just England who haven't always performed when the expectations were heightened," said Hodgson.

"There are quite a few teams that have failed. It's a fact of life.

"We've come here with the England national team. We believe in ourselves and we want to do well.

"In some ways it's rather nice that people back home are hoping and even believing we can do well, and we're giving them something to dream about and cling onto."