Hours before England's European Championship qualifier against Bulgaria on Friday, the manager Fabio Capello is hoping that intense pressure will continue to bring out the best in him.

"No, this is not the worst situation I have been in. It has been the same two or three times. Once at Madrid, once at Milan, and now," he told reporters.

"I hope the pressure brings out the best in me. Up to this point it usually has."

The English team players have admitted they are feeling huge pressure in the wake of a dismal World Cup performance and in the absence of injured stars John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard and Peter Crouch.

Capello however claims that most of the pressure is media generated.

"You create the God, and you create the monster, no?" said Capello, staring straight back at the inquisitors he believes are responsible for the construction and dismantling of reputations.

"I remember what you wrote about me a short time before this period. I live the same moment when you write well of me as when you write badly of me. You have to live with the pressure. It is my job.

"This is my team. We lost one game in the World Cup after one big mistake from the referee. "You don't remember this. But after this, your opinion about me changed completely.

"You wrote a lot of things differently. But I live with this situation."

"When we win we play the perfect style. When we lose you question positions on the pitch. It's your job. It's my job to find the best solution."

Capello is wary of a Bulgarian side who, with Dimitar Berbatov retired, will threaten chiefly through Manchester City reject Martin Petrov.

Pace is ensured therefore in a team that has met England eight times and never won. Four of those meetings ended in draws though.