 McClaren suffered his first defeat as England boss in Zagreb |
Steve McClaren says he should be judged as England manager at the end of the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign. McClaren was widely blamed for changing to a 3-5-2 formation as England's bid to reach the finals faltered after a 2-0 defeat by Croatia in Zagreb.
"The job I have taken on is qualifying for Euro 2008, so I should be judged at the end of that period," said McClaren.
"A good manager would qualify with these players. I'm not contemplating resigning. I feel we will get there."
McClaren believes it is vital he implements new tactics but understands why the England supporters vented their frustration in Croatia.
 | I'm not contemplating resigning and it's too early to talk about the sack |
"Along the way we're going to hit rocks because we need to try things," he added.
"But it's not as if I'm stuck here in a muddle not knowing where I am and over the coming games and months, hopefully we'll address these problems.
"I understand why the fans are angry and the demand for a performance is always there.
"But the expectation level in the dressing room is we have to qualify."
The former Middlesbrough manager reiterated that he has no intention of standing down.
He said: "I've every confidence in us qualifying, so I'm not thinking about walking away.
"And it's too early to talk about me being sacked. It's where you end up, not where we are at the present time."
England assistant boss Terry Venables says McClaren was astonished by the level of abuse he had endured after the defeat by Croatia.
"Steve was shellshocked by it," Venables told the News of the World.
"It used to be that an England manager had 12 months to make his mark - but if it's down to eight weeks now, then the job has just become impossible.
"Steve is the last man who should be thinking of walking away after five games thinking 'the country doesn't want me to be the England boss - perhaps they never did'."
Meanwhile, publicist Max Clifford says he quit as McClaren's adviser this week because he could not do his job properly.
"I walked because I wasn't doing anything for Steve, I wasn't allowed to," Clifford told BBC Five Live's Sportweek programme.
"I said we needed to work closely together if I was going to help him but we haven't had that so I'm wasting my time and his money."
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