Here's what he had to say...

Are you a better player for your time in Spain?

I don't know, that's up to you lads to say. So far, I've enjoyed myself and I think people have noticed that I've been having fun as well as playing good football. I've always said that I want to improve myself as a player wherever I play so I'd love to think that I've got better.

Would you like to play in the central role for England?

I'm not sure whether I'll get that role for England but I'm enjoying it there for Real Madrid as it's different to what I've been doing for the past 10 or 15 years at Manchester United. But it's a different story with the national team as my position is on the right just out of the middle. If I'm put in the middle, then great, but I'm happy on the right and I haven't got a problem with it. Wherever Mr Eriksson decides to put me, then I'm happy with that.

Do you feel tired after playing so many games lately?

I'm okay, to be honest. The games are coming thick and fast, and they're all tough games. We've played against Valencia quite a few times in the past few months. But I'm not really tired, I'm enjoying it, to be honest.

How does Spanish football compare to English football?

I've only been there six months but it's definitely different. I think the league is slightly harder as I don't think we've played one game where it's been a walkover, even though we won one game 7-2 at the Bernabeu.

Did you meet up with Sven at a recent Madrid game?

He came out to watch the game. We just said hello at the hotel on the day of the game and I was on my way to the pre-match meal.

On meetings with The FA on player selection

Of course, there have to be guidelines, everyone realises that. But if we can all come together and work together, it's got to be sorted as we can't have the mess that's gone on.

What about the future of Sven?

I think he knows how much the players want him to stay. For him to be asked about his future almost every day when he has a contract with England, I'm sure he's getting fed up with it. I'm sure it's something that will keep coming up until he's signed a 10-year contract, but he's got to be left alone to lead us into this competition.

What makes Sven a good manager?

Sven, Tord and Brian Kidd at training on MondayHe's got the respect of the players. He came into the England set-up with some people not exactly wanting him here as he's a foreign manager coaching the England team. But he's won the respect of the players straight away. He treats them in the right way. If you're wrong, then he'll tell you but if you've done well, he'll tell you that as well. He's a very good manager.

Tactically he tells you what he wants and you do that. When you've got respect for a manager, you want to play well for him and win for him.

I think we all want him to stay as the England manager but only he can decide that. He's got a contract until 2006 and he's just got to be left with leading us into Portugal.

He's always said that he wants to stay and lead us into the Championship but we'll just have to wait and see.

Do you feel something special could happen for England this summer?

I'd like to think it could. A few months before these competitions, we always say this is our time. But it's come to a point now, not just for the players and managers, but for the fans, to see the hysteria around the rugby was so special. It was nice being in the country to see how everyone reacted. To see that happen in football terms would be pretty amazing. Rugby has got a great lift from the lads winning the World Cup, but just imagine if the football team won something.

It's definitely about time. We haven't won anything for a number of years now so to go into this competition and do something, when people are expecting us to do something, it would be nice to win it.

We have got a young team with good players coming into the squad. Expectations will always be high with the national team as it's England and that's what is good about our country - we always think we're going to win a competition. Hopefully we can prove people right now and go on to win it. But there's a lot of hard work still to be done. If we get our heads down, work hard and get a bit of luck along the way, then you never know.

So the best way to ensure Sven stays would be to win Euro 2004?

I think it would definitely help. He's a man who wants success and if we can give him that, then great. But he's got to be allowed to go into this competition and concentrate on leading us, more than anything.

Every player wants to come here and is impressed with how he treats the players and the way he coaches us.

Do you think more English players should play abroad?

If they get the chance then I would definitely say take that chance, it's definitely worth it. I would never have thought I'd leave Manchester United but to be where I am now, to be playing the football I am now and to be happy, I think that's special for me.

I had so many happy years at Manchester United and now I've had a happy six months in Madrid and hopefully a happy few more years there.

Would you encourage Michael Owen to join Real Madrid?

There's also been speculation about Totti, Henry and Ruud van Nistelrooy. But Ruud has just signed a new contract with United, Henry has said he doesn't want to leave Arsenal and I've always said that Michael is a great player and would do well wherever he plays. But he's a Liverpool player and as long as he's happy there and scoring goals, then he'll stay there.


ENGLAND

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