Terry: We'll save Mac - Sport - Evening Standard
       

Terry: We'll save Mac

John Terry has called on England's players to save Steve McClaren from the sack by beating Brazil and Estonia in the next six days.

After a difficult first season as head coach, McClaren cannot afford to drop any more European Championship points against an Estonia side who have not even scored in the current campaign.

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Wembley way: Brazil game is the perfect opportunity to win the fans back, says Terry

Terry recognises as much and the England captain responded by declaring his support for the underpressure McClaren before Friday night's friendly with Brazil at the new Wembley Stadium.

"We're fully behind the manager and we're going to do our best to keep him in his job," said Terry.

"We're thinking positively. We need to go to Estonia and get a win. It's as simple as that. You could say Steve McClaren's under pressure but we said it before and we'll continue to say it: the players are fully behind him."

The fans turned on McClaren during the unimpressive Euro 2008 qualifying win against Andorra in Barcelona's Olympic stadium in March and Terry says England need to get their supporters back onside with a good performance against Brazil this evening.

"It's the perfect opportunity to win the fans back," he said. "If we can beat Brazil with a good performance in the first game at Wembley, in front of a sell-out crowd, it will get everyone back on our side.

"It's the chance to get going again, get off to a good start. It's very important we make Wembley a fortress and it's a great chance to do it against a world-class side with some great players.

"Maybe this could be the time to set the marker down and show everyone else out there that it's going to be a difficult place for teams to come to.

"We've got to make it a tough place to come to, like it is at Chelsea or Old Trafford or Anfield.

"This is our home now, a great stadium, a great facility. We have to make it as difficult as possible for everyone.

"When teams first come in they may not realise how big the stadium is. We're hoping they think, 'flippin' hell, with 80,000 to 90,000 England fans here it's going to be difficult for us today'."

Terry has already celebrated an historic victory at the £760million stadium when he captained Chelsea to a 1-0 victory against Manchester United in the FA Cup Final 13 days ago.

But he said: "It's going to make me very proud, walking out there and being the first England captain to lead the team at the new Wembley. It's going to live with me forever."

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