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were for me. The press seemed supportive, too, writing as if my appointment was a foregone conclusion, and I began to think it was almost nailed on, if I wanted it. And I did want it. It would have been a tough call but, had they offered me the job, I probably would have taken it. At the time, I forgot the compensation clause and the other obstacles, and thought only about the positives the job could bring.
    I know some of my positive comments about becoming England manager upset Tottenham, but I was only speaking honestly. Daniel wasn’t happy that I came out and said that I would like the England job, but I did not intend that statement as a snub to Tottenham. People do not realise how intense the questioning can get when the England position is vacant. For those that are considered candidates, every press conference becomes a bit of an ordeal. You are asked incessantly, ‘Are you interested? Would you take it? Are you happy at Spurs?’ Every answer is picked over for clues. If I said I was happy with Spurs that was interpreted as a suggestion I might turn down England; if I said I would be honoured to be England manager, I was poised to reject a new contract with Spurs. And I’m not really the sort of bloke to say, ‘No comment.’ Well, not at the thousandth time of asking, anyway. So I gave the reply I thought was most diplomatic: I am very happy at Tottenham, but it would be difficult for any Englishman to turn down the national job. I still think that’s a fair assessment and respectful to all parties. And, let’s face it, I was not revealing any state secrets there. It is the pinnacle of your careerto manage your country, and if an English manager is offered the job, it would be difficult to turn down.
    I think Daniel felt I was being disloyal for saying this, particularly as Tottenham had offered such fantastic support throughout my court case. But that was one of the reasons I didn’t see any harm in making an open statement. Everyone at Tottenham knew how I felt about their backing for me in a crisis. I didn’t think that bond could be damaged by the honest admission that an English manager is always flattered to be linked with managing England. I still don’t see why that came as a slap in the face to them.
    Some people think I became distracted once the speculation around England arose, but I don’t agree. We still finished fourth, which the club would have been delighted with when the season began, and nobody could have anticipated the set of circumstances by which Chelsea denied us a place in the Champions League. We had injuries and lost momentum, that was why we couldn’t hold on to third place. It wasn’t as if I was sitting there mapping out starting line-ups for England when I should have been making plans with Tottenham. Professionally, it was always Tottenham first – it was just hard not to feel excited by the potential in that England squad.
    All the senior players seemed to be up for me to get the job. I got quite a few text messages at the time from players saying they would love me to manage England: Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry.
    So there was no time wasted planning for the England job because, as an English manager, I already had my own opinions about the national team. We all do. I’m sure José Mourinho knows what he would do with Portugal right now, if he were asked, andArsène Wenger will feel the same about France. I was no different. Even when Capello was in the job and settled, I knew exactly how I wanted the England team to play.
    And I knew the man to get them to do it, too. When Tottenham played Swansea on 1 April 2012, I pulled Brendan Rodgers aside after the game and said that if all this speculation about England was true, would he consider coming to the European Championships in the summer, as my part-time coach? I loved what he had done with Swansea, the way he had taken players who had not been encouraged to play adventurous football