England coach Fabio Capello has called on club managers "to respect me" and to stop publicly criticising the performances of the national side ahead of the opening World Cup qualifier with Andorra.
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp launched a particularly scathing attack after England's 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic at Wembley last month.
Capello makes a point of never giving opinions about the dozens of club games he witnesses up and down the country and he wants other managers and coaches to follow suit in terms of England.
He said: "Have I had enough support from the clubs? Yes, I speak with the managers to check the different positions of some players and football matters and they are always friendly with me.
"But I also make a point of not talking about any of the club games that I see. I'm the present England manager and I respect the club managers.
"The other managers have to respect me. They support me enough, all the managers. But I'd prefer it if other managers didn't comment on England's performances.
"As the president of the England League Managers' Asosciation, I feel there should be respect both ways.
"Was I surprised of the strength of Harry Redknapp's criticism? I think, sometimes, it's okay. Sometimes it's not okay. It depends on the opinion everyone has about football. But I never speak about other teams."
Capello also made it clear he only wants players in his squad who are fully committed to England.
His comments followed on from former England defender Jamie Carragher who said he hurt more when on the losing side with Liverpool than his country.
Capello said: "I remember my country (Italy) and in other countries I've managed, like Spain also, that all the players like to play with their national team.
"My message is, if you don't have the heart for the national team 'stay at home'.
"The players here have the heart for the national team. The players here have to sacrifice something to be proud to be here. That's very important. They have to be proud to be here.
"They have to have heart and pride in the badge. The players who are here have that and also I know that Steven Gerrard was disappointed not to be here (after surgery). That is important for me.
"We are now into competitive matches and now we need to play hard, to play for the England shirt, and that's very important. But we also have to play for the result."
Meanwhile Capello remains confident that centre-back Rio Ferdinand will be fit for the more demanding test against Croatia in Zagreb on Wednesday.
The Manchester United defender and new England vice-captain has been ruled out of the Andorra clash with a stiff neck.
"We won't be sure 100% on Rio Ferdinand because he's not fit tonight. He will not be in the first eleven, for sure. He's the only one at this moment who's not fit," Capello added.
"He will be fit for Croatia. He told me this is a normal injury for him. Usually it takes one or two days maximum. This time it's taking more."
England v. Andorra: Key battles
England return to Barcelona to face traditional whipping boys Andorra at Barca B's Miniestadi ground tomorrow, with memories still fresh of their monumental struggle to beat the Pyreneans at the Olympic Stadium in March 2007. Andorra have already started their 2010 World Cup qualifying programme - with a telling 3-0 defeat by Kazakhstan.
PA Sport takes a look at the key battles which could be contested this weekend.
FERNANDO SILVA v JOHN TERRY
Silva does an admirable job ploughing a lone furrow up front with a woeful lack of creativity behind him in David Rodrigo's side. Indeed, the veteran Villanovense forward's return of two goals in 22 caps is a decent return bearing in mind his side's goalscoring ratio. In truth, however, Terry will face more of a goal threat in the form of set-pieces when his opposite numbers make rare forays forward.
XAVIER ANDORRA v FRANK LAMPARD
Andorra has only nine caps to his name so far but has established himself as one of Rodrigo's first-choice midfielders, often playing in front of an eight-man wall and attempting to provide a supply line for Silva up front. Andorra, 23, plays for Binefar in the fourth tier of the Spanish league - a stark contrast to Lampard, whose new deal at Chelsea recently catapulted him towards the top tier of footballers' earnings in the world.
TONI LIMA v WAYNE ROONEY
One of the lasting memories from England's poor 3-0 victory in a Euro 2008 qualifier under Steve McClaren was that of Lima managing to get the combustible Rooney hot under the collar. The 37-year-old has given up playing on a weekly basis and now only puts on his boots for the national team, while working as an executive for his former club Eivissa. Rooney will be hoping for a more successful evening this time after struggling terribly the last time they squared off in Barcelona.
