Steve McClaren not seeking assurances over Newcastle future
Friday 4 December 2015 07:23, UK
Newcastle manager Steve McClaren has revealed he has neither sought nor received assurances about his future as his side continues to struggle for form.
United head into the Super Sunday clash with Liverpool - who thrashed Southampton 6-1 in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday evening - knowing the pressure is growing on him following a poor run that leaves the Magpies lying second from bottom in the Premier League ahead of this weekend's fixtures.
But when asked if he had looked for guarantees from his employers in the wake of last week's 5-1 thrashing at Crystal Palace, which saw Newcastle slip back into the relegation zone, McClaren said: "I wouldn't ask for that and I wouldn't expect to receive that.
"I think that's demonstrated by what we do during the week and what we do on a Saturday or Sunday and that's why it's important."
The former England head coach's reign currently extends to just 16 games, two of them in the Capital One Cup, but only three - two of them in the league - have resulted in victory, and that has prompted bookmakers' to install the 54-year-old as favourite to be the next top-flight boss to lose his job.
"It's football, so you never know. You go into every job knowing the impatience of football, and you need results," added McClaren.
"We know what the situation is and it's game to game and we're fighting for the next result.
"Will we be given time? We need to get results to keep that going, we know that, but like everything, we do the right things every day.
"We do the work and we try and give the players the confidence they need on a Saturday, Sunday, whenever, to win games.
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"In the cold light of day, five wins in a year doesn't bode well for confidence and belief, and that's one of the things we have to turn around.
"Many people say that the players don't care or don't try, but it really is as simple as confidence."
Watch Newcastle v Liverpool on Super Sunday. Coverage begins on Sky Sports 1 at 3:30pm.
