Bilic: 'McClaren needs more time'
Updated on 19 November 2007
Croatia boss Slaven Bilic says Steve McClaren should keep his job - even if England lose on Wednesday.
Bilic's team have already secured qualification but visit Wembley with England needing to avoid defeat to join them in Austria and Switzerland next summer.
Former West Ham and Everton defender Bilic insists McClaren has done a good job to keep his side in contention in a group he rates as the hardest of all, and should get the chance to continue at the helm.
"McClaren has done a good job and I feel sorry for him because despite having strong players he has had an enormous lack of luck every game missing four or five big players," Bilic told Sky Sports News.
"(Wayne) Rooney, (John) Terry, (Michael) Owen, (Rio) Ferdinand all out, I feel very sorry for him.
"I said ages ago that this is by far the hardest group.
'McClaren has done a good job and I feel sorry for him because despite having strong players he has had an enormous lack of luck every game missing four or five big players.'Bilic, speaking to Sky Sports News
"I'm watching all the games and I think England and Croatia and Russia deserve to be there. No other groups have such strong fourth and fifth teams as Macedonia and Israel."
Bilic also believes international coaches should be given more time than club bosses, given their limited access to the players.
He added: "In modern football, especially with big teams like England, you don't have the time.
"If at a big club you need a year or two years in charge, as an international manager you need even longer because you get the players only five six times a year.
"I think he should (continue). He is definitely a good manager. What makes me think that is the squad, the players are really behind him, they love him."
Although the pressure is off Croatia, Bilic insists his team will do their utmost to end their campaign with a high-profile win.
"It's not me against Steve McClaren but very few teams can get out of Wembley with three points. It would be one of the biggest results and games in our football history.
"If we beat England people would talk about it as the best game in 20 years.
"We'll try to play our normal game and it's a great test for us.
"We are not going to be under immense pressure but we are playing for our country at Wembley against very good players.
"England are definitely favourites now but we have to be confident and try to give them a good game."
