No illusions for Hodgson

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Hodgson admits his side go into the game as second favourites but is open to the idea of a shock result.

"We're playing a team who are champions of England, champions of Europe and champions of the world in a fantastic stadium," said Hodgson. "Albeit our chances are very slim. Miracles don't always happen but sometimes they do."

He added: "These are the sort of games everyone wants to play. We struggled at the end of last season and worked our socks off to stay in this division and the reason we did that was for games like this.

"No-one is really expecting us to go there and score three or four so anything we do will be a surprise. We surprised everyone by staying in the division last year and maybe we can surprise them again."

Hodgson also revealed he would happily scour a Sir Alex Ferguson coaching manual for tips, even though he has called for his side not to be overawed by their Old Trafford visit.

Hodgson has enjoyed a high-profile and varied career in management, taking in stints with Serie A giants Inter Milan as well as Blackburn and the Swiss national side, but he would still relish the chance to learn from the Scot.

He added: "He took on a job 20 years ago which, even then, was considered one of the most difficult jobs in the country. Since then he's built an empire.

"They were a big club when he went there and now they are an institution around the world. He is a person who has been able to evolve with the times, keep abreast of things and he has a very good eye for a player.

"You could write books on how successful he has been; in fact I'm sure there have been books. But it would be nice one day to read a book when he tells you how he has managed to achieve this great success, then the rest of us could read it and try to follow it."