*Eriksson says players forgive him
**http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4616018.stm*
I am confident my relationship with them has not been damaged in any way
Sven-Goran Eriksson
Still launches Eriksson defence
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said he has received the backing of
his players following embarrassing allegations in the News of the World.
Eriksson divulged private details of several members of his squad to an
undercover reporter.
"I do not feel I have embarrassed the players," said Eriksson at a
Football Writers' Association dinner on Sunday.
"It would have been better without the article, of course, but having
spoken to them about it there is no problem."
The England coach was quoted as discussing David Beckham, Michael Owen,
Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Eriksson added: "I have spoken to almost all of them: Beckham, Rooney,
Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen.
"I did not contact Shaun-Wright Phillips because he was playing at
Sunderland but I will do so."
Eriksson did not believe his comments would cause a problem for Owen,
who he claimed had told him he was unhappy on Tyneside and was only at
the club because they put together an incredible financial package.
But Eriksson said: "I do not think Michael Owen will have a problem with
the Newcastle fans."
Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd responded: "We have spoken with the
player and he has confirmed he is happy at Newcastle United."
Eriksson is also said to have spoken about Rooney's suspect temper,
suggested Ferdinand is lazy and questioned the money Chelsea had paid
for Wright-Phillips.
During the meeting, Eriksson is said to have suggested England skipper
David Beckham was unsettled at Real Madrid and keen to return to England.
But Real Madrid coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro was quoted as saying: "I
think Becks is a 12 out of 10 player and you can see that in his
attitude on the pitch. I think he is committed to the club."
And a Real Madrid spokesman said: "If an offer came in for David Beckham
from any club, not just from England, it would be rejected."
A Beckham spokesman said: "There's no intention to return to England.
David is focused on doing all he can for Real."
If the News of the World really cared about what happens to the England
team, they would not be printing material likely to destabilise the
position
Eriksson, his lawyer Richard Des Voeux and Still met the undercover
reporter, posing as a rich Arab, in Dubai to discuss a consultancy role
for a new football academy, a trip that was sanctioned by the FA.
During the meeting Eriksson is said to have suggested he would consider
becoming Aston Villa boss if the Arab group succeeded in a possible
takeover of the club.
But Eriksson, who has been given the backing of the Football
Association, says he is "100% committed" to England despite the
newspaper quoting him as claiming he might leave his post if his team
won the World Cup.
While Eriksson re-iterated his commitment to his job, his employers were
equally swift to confirm their support for him.
A senior source at the FA told the BBC Eriksson's job was "not at risk
in any way".
And a statement on the FA's website said it could "confirm that England
head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson continues to have the full support of the
organisation."
The coach's agent Athole Still told BBC Five Live that Eriksson had even
asked him to see if the FA would extend his contract until 2010.
Still accused the newspaper of "disgraceful entrapment" and made it
clear that Eriksson is disgusted at the timing of events and hinted that
they could take action against the article.
Who is Mazher Mahmood?
The News of the World undercover reporter in question, Mazher Mahmood,
has a track record of trapping public figures in embarrassing stings.
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