McClaren walks out of press conference

12 April 2012

England manager Steve McClaren stormed out of his post-match press conference after Wednesday's 3-0 win over Andorra.

McClaren has been under siege from the media all week and was then forced to sit through sustained calls for his head throughout the game as England eventually ran out comfortable victors in Barcelona.

Clearly irked at the treatment he has been receiving, McClaren civilly answered just two questions before his voice began to crack and he got to his feet declaring: "Gentlemen, if you want to write whatever you want to write, you can write it because that is all I am going to say. Thank you."

Reflecting on the win, McClaren said: "I said at half-time, this is when we have to stick together, this is when we have to step forward and show real guts and character. The players did that. I am proud of them. Probably a few of them have grown up.

"Nothing concerns me about what people write or say. What matters is what is on the inside. I have had fantastic support this week from the players and the staff; from everyone within the squad and also outside it. There is a great determination to prove people wrong."

Although the eventual margin of victory, achieved thanks to a Steven Gerrard double and a late tap-in from debutant David Nugent, was acceptable in terms of pre-match expectation, it was the reaction of the England fans which really grabbed the attention.

The vast majority of the thousands of supporters who had flown in for the game joined in anti-McClaren chants.

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