England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson claims he has 'no problem' with his star players and insists he has not embarrassed them.
The Swede 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 hypothetical takeover.
In addition, Eriksson made indiscreet comments about Michael Owen, David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney.
But the Football Association have already confirmed their support for Eriksson and he claims his players have done the same.
"I do not feel I have embarrassed the players," said Eriksson, who was at a Football Writers' Association dinner at the Savoy Hotel in London last night.
"I have spoken to almost all of them ... Beckham, Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen.
"I did not contact Shaun-Wright Phillips because he was playing at Sunderland but I will do so.
"It would have been better without the article, of course, but having spoken to them about it there is no problem."
It remains to be seen what effect the revelations will have on his players ahead of this summer's World Cup finals in Germany.
Eriksson said of Ferdinand: "He is lazy sometimes," and then, referring to Ferdinand's United team-mate Rooney, he talked of the player having a 'temper' and 'coming from a poor family'.
Eriksson said skipper Beckham was 'a bit frustrated' at Real Madrid and that he would be able to phone the England captain to persuade him to return to English football with Villa.
After the revelations were made public in Sunday's News of the World, Eriksson told the official FA website: "I would like to assure everyone, especially the fans, that I am 100 per cent committed to the England job. I have told The FA this and I value the great support I have received from them.
"I have spoken with the players concerned and I have been very pleased with their reaction and am confident my relationship with them has not been damaged in any way."
