England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson believes managers have a "responsibility" to maintain a positive relationship with referees.

England national team coach, Swedish Sven-Goran Eriksson, seen here in 2005, said that clubs' managers should have a "responsibility" to get on well with referees. [AFP]

With referee Anders Frisk retiring this week after receiving threats, Eriksson insists disagreements are inevitable but managers can help the situation.

I think when you're a manager you have a responsibility, that's one field that's very important,' he said.

"It's not necessary to have the same ideas as the referees, I had that in Portugal but after 90 minutes you can talk to the referee, and then it's finished."

Eriksson himself received criticism after his side's lacklustre performance last time out when they faced Holland.

"You are always criticised, more or less, so as long as it is football then it is fair," he added.

"I learned a lot from that game, we played Holland, who could win the World Cup, so it was difficult and I think we did okay."

Eriksson added that striker Michael Owen will become increasingly concerned if he still has only a bit part role at Real Madrid next season ahead of the 2006 World Cup finals.

Owen is still struggling to secure a regular place with Real since last summer's move from Liverpool despite their ailing form in the Champions League and La Liga.

Eriksson has always publicly maintained that Owen's lack of action in Spain has not been a major concern with him in terms of affecting his performances at international level.

But he did concede he would prefer to see Owen performing week in and week out ahead of the World Cup double header with Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan later this month.

Eriksson said: "Michael Owen has always played very well for us and the good thing about his current situation is that he will not be tired."

"But, of course, if the situation with Michael and Real Madrid goes on for next season or the season after, then I think he will be concerned about it - more concerned than I am."

"Would I like to see him playing regularly next season? Yes, of course. I should like to see him play every game but I am not the manager of Real Madrid, that is their business."

Eriksson has hinted Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole could play a larger part in his plans for the two games from which six points would virtually guarantee England's place in the finals in Germany.

He said: "Joe Cole is improving match after match. He is playing a lot of games at the moment and showing more discipline on the pitch. "

"He is making the right decisions so, yes, he is a player that is in my mind."

Another Cole - Arsenal full-back Ashley - is currently under the spotlight over his alleged tapping-up by Chelsea but Eriksson does not believe his form will be affected when he joins up with England next week.

He said: "I have every confidence that Ashley Cole will be in the right frame of mind and I don't think he will have any problems at all in performing well for England."

England will be red-hot favourites to overcome Lawrie Sanchez's side but the former Wimbledon FA Cup winner and Wycombe manager has made a habit of causing upsets during his career.

He scored the Dons' winning goal in their 1988 FA Cup final triumph over Liverpool and also led Wycombe to the semi-finals of the same competition four years ago.

Eriksson said: 'On paper people might think it is easy but reality is another thing. I have a lot of respect for Northern Ireland. It will be like a derby game and they will do everything they can to beat us.

"You never have easy games in international football. I think the easiest we had was when we won 5-1 in Germany. Football is strange and they (Northern Ireland) will do all they can to get one over on us."

"We will be made favourites to win because we have a lot of good players. But of course we can lose. I hope that isn't the case but in football anything can happen."

"Maybe we are expected to get six points from Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan and I will be very disappointed if we don't win those two matches but we have to work hard and everything has to go before us."

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Editor: Donald