McClaren gets Wenger backing

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger believes Steve McClaren will bounce back from being sacked after England failed to qualify for Euro 2008.

Wenger and McClaren will come face to face in under a fortnight when Arsenal and Dutch side FC Twente clash in the Champions League third qualifying round.

McClaren has escaped the pressures of English football to take charge of Twente, and yesterday’s draw in Nyon amazingly threw the former England coach straight back into the spotlight.

Arsenal will consider that they have been given a favourable draw against McClaren’s small-town club, while Liverpool will be equally happy to have drawn Belgian champions Standard Liège at the same stage.

The pair will both be at home in the second leg, with the matches taking place on August 12/13 and 26/27.

But it is McClaren’s quick return to England that has grabbed the attention, and Wenger yesterday offered his support to the vilified former Middlesbrough and England boss.

“He is not at the end of his career, he is in the middle of his career and I believe it is a good opportunity for him to show his quality,” he said.

“I remember when I started, and I look at the people who were around me then, and there are not many who have survived.

“But the strong ones do survive so Steve is in the period where he will show that he can bounce back and show his quality.”

And Wenger believes working abroad will benefit McClaren.

“You become a different person by getting out of your country, it makes you stronger as well,” he added.

“He has had unfair criticism – but unfair criticism stops quickly if you get good results. I think that kind of opinion changes quickly.

Twente will not be able to play the home leg in Enschede because their stadium is being renovated and does not meet UEFA requirements. The match will be switched to Arnhem.

McClaren said: “As soon as I joined Twente I knew we had the draw coming up, and strangely I expected one of the English teams. I think fate deals you certain cards and it has dealt us this draw.

“Of all the teams we could have had, that is one of the toughest. Obviously we looked at the prospect of facing Arsenal, Liverpool, Juventus or Schalke and we got one of the most difficult.”

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez expressed satisfaction with his side’s tie: “There are two very important things about this draw. Firstly, the second game is at home which is really, really important. Clearly that makes a massive difference to play the deciding game in front of our own fans.

“I am also pleased because the travelling is not a problem. We do not have to go too far which is good, especially when you look at some of the teams we could have drawn.

“People may say it is a kind draw for us but we will treat them with respect. We know some things about their team already but we will now watch more videos and get reports from our scouts before the first game.”

Liverpool, finalists twice in four years, face a Liege side who are making their Champions League debut, having not won their domestic title for 25 years until last term.

Laszlo Boloni’s side went on a 31-match unbeaten run to lift the crown, but they will not relish facing the likes of Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane.