Let's talk about some of the managers you've played for at World
Cups for England. You've played for a few managers.
Did the method in which they prepared for the opposition
change significantly?
DB: As everyone knows, each manager's different and their
preparation is different for games. Some are more relaxed, some are
more intense, some are more excitable. So the managers I've played
under for the World Cups - everyone's been an experience because
each one's been different and I liked all of them, because
sometimes it's good to have that relaxed approach to a game because
it relaxes the team. But then sometimes it's great to have a really
intense manager that wants your focus, wants you concentrating and
that works for the team.
Did you have many meetings? And how did different
managers debrief you on the opposition and their strengths and
weaknesses?
DB: Once you reach a certain level - especially when you're
playing for your country and you're playing for some of the top
teams in Europe - meetings are a necessity because it's so
important to be prepared for the players that you're playing
against because they're such great players, and the teams that
you're playing against because they're such difficult teams. So
preparation has become a huge thing now in football. With England,
we'll always have two or three meetings during the week.
Sometimes less, sometimes - more likely - it's more, because it's
important to go through everything, whether watching what we've
done in training during the week, or whether it's the day before
the game, or whether it's the day of the game. There are
always quite a few meetings leading up to the game. Players are
used to that, players don't have problems with that, players are
ready for the meetings and appreciate the knowledge of the coaching
staff and manager.
How did the team talks of the different managers
vary?
DB: When you come away with a national team, obviously it's a
manager that you don't work with day in and day out, so there's a
lot of passion there. There are managers that are sometimes
more relaxed than others, but each one's been amazing.
Can you tell us about some of the motivational
methods?
DB: Motivation for players these days, and for players that are
playing for their country, and players that are playing in World
Cups - they don't need much motivating because you're playing at
the top level, you're playing at the biggest station in the world
and in sport. But managers are well aware that,
sometimes, they need to motivate the players. Some do it
by shouting, some do it by taking the personal approach by talking
to players - individuals - and giving them confidence. I've found
either works for me. Sometimes you like to be shouted at, it gets
you going, and sometimes you like an arm around you and to be told
you're doing well.
Can you tell us what happens at half-time? How
much information can you take in, or is it basically physical
recovery at that point?
DB: I think players these days, they don't need much physical
recovering because they look after themselves so well, and they're
prepared for the game. You get your drink in; you get your water
in, and what else individuals need. The information that's
obviously told to you by the manager, you have to listen to it and
you have to take it in because things might be going wrong in the
first half and you've seen how games can change in one minute or 30
seconds. So that information at half-time is so important.
When you were a captain, did you try to assist the
manager in sort of motivating at half-time as well?
DB: I was lucky as captain because we had a lot inspirational
people and players in the team and in the squad, so my approach as
a captain has been to talk to players. Every now and again I
was shouting on the field, but in the changing room we had a lot of
motivated players and that was good for me. It's always
important to have that in a team.
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