World NewsI Was Good Value - Eriksson |
Sven-Goran Eriksson today denied he was greedy for continuing to accept money from the Football Association despite having left his role as England coach almost a year ago.
Eriksson has not worked since the national team's exit at the hands of Portugal in a penalty shoot-out in the quarter-final of last summer's World Cup."I had a contract until 2008," Eriksson said. "I was sacked. If I had been greedy I would have asked for money until 2008 - it would have been fair.
"I agreed to have six months fully paid and six months half paid. So I think I was good value for the FA."
Eriksson refused to rule out a return to management in England, but would not be drawn on the identity of the clubs he could manage.
He told the BBC's Inside Sport programme: "I can't tell you that.
"Hopefully you will know it soon because if I'm going to take a job for next season it will happen in two or three weeks' time. Otherwise it is too late."
He did reveal, though, his main regret as England chief was not taking a "mental coach" to prepare the players for a penalty shoot-out in Germany.
"England in this moment, last year and in the future, have a squad of players who can win the World Cup. We didn't do it, and I'm extremely sorry about that, but we could have done it," he added.
Eriksson pinned his dismissal on the "fake sheikh" scandal, when he was caught in a tabloid newspaper sting.
"I was sacked because this time the FA had had enough and they didn't check if it was true or not."
Eriksson is adamant England will qualify for Euro 2008 despite being fourth in their qualifying group with only the top two progressing to Austria and Switzerland.
"I'm sure they will [qualify], and they will have a good tournament."
Asked if new coach Steve McClaren should be sacked if England do not make it, he said: "They will qualify, so that is not a discussion."
Copyright (c) 2009 Press Association
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