Sven On 'Not Perfect' Rooney

On a more pleasing note for England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson this morning, he does not expect 'genius' Wayne Rooney to be perfect. Reports elsewhere are sure to draw his attention.

The Football Association are considering their response to a series of revelations about the England coach by a Sunday newspaper.

Eriksson reportedly told an undercover News of the World reporter - posing as a rich Arab - that he would quit as England coach if they win the World Cup this summer, and suggested he would be prepared to become manager of Aston Villa as part of a takeover bid.

Athole Still, Eriksson's agent, confirmed the England coach spoke about the possibility of managing Aston Villa, but described the News of the World article as 'disgraceful entrapment' and said much of it was 'sheer fantasy'.

He insists Eriksson, whom he described as being 'really angry', did not talk about breaking his England contract.

However elsewhere ...

Eriksson does not expect 'genius' Wayne Rooney to be perfect. Eriksson admits 20-year-old striker Rooney is one of the best players he has coached.

But there have been questions about the Manchester United player's temperament and Eriksson believes it is unfair to expect Rooney to be perfect.

'People are always asking that a person should be perfect,' Eriksson told the League Managers' Association website, www.leaguemanagers.co.uk.

'Wayne is a genius as a player - he has everything - and he also has a temperament. But you can't ask people to be perfect.

'When you are a big star, as players like him are, everything they do, every mistake they make, will be criticised.

'I don't think that's fair, they can't be perfect.

'He is an extraordinary player, one of the best I have ever coached.'

Eriksson is stunned by the contribution Rooney has already made for England and expects more at the World Cup finals in Germany this summer.

'Wayne has only just turned 20 yet he already has 23 caps for England, which is incredible.

'I don't think even Pele had that many for Brazil at 20.

'Rooney can be a big star in the 2006 World Cup, If you remember Euro 2004, he played fantastically well but then got injured against Portugal.'