Chelsea pair Frank Lampard and John Terry have followed David Beckham's lead by giving their support to underfire England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.
The Swede's future is in doubt after an affair with a Football Association (FA) secretary but England midfielder Lampard told British newspapers on Saturday: "People don't seem to take any notice of the loyalty the players have to the manager.
"It's strange because it counts for nothing outside but we see it inside the camp, where it counts for everything. The players are united in that feeling and they will give everything for him.
"Most of the players in the squad would say the same. It would be an absolute shame if he were forced out over this."
Speaking after his club Real Madrid beat J-League team JEF United Ichihara 3-1 in Tokyo on Thursday, Beckham was asked for his opinion of Eriksson.
"As far as I'm concerned he's been a great man to me and a great man to the rest of the players," said the England captain.
"Every one of the players respects him as a manager and what he's done for the team and what he's done for the country...I've enjoyed working with him and hopefully I can carry on working with him."
England defender Terry also said the players thought highly of Eriksson.
"The lads are all behind Sven and we'd like him to stay," Terry told British newspapers on Saturday. "He's a very good manager and he's got the full support of each and every player in the squad.
"We play for him every time we put the shirt on and he knows how to get the lads going. Everyone in the squad speaks very highly of him and, fingers crossed, he'll stay."
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