As Fabio Capello prepares to lead England in a competitive match for the first time, he has asked Barclays Premier League managers to show him more respect. The Italian was taken aback by criticism from Harry Redknapp, the Portsmouth manager, and with his team under pressure to start their World Cup qualifying campaign with an emphatic victory over Andorra in Barcelona this evening, Capello suggested that his fellow managers were not helping matters.

Redknapp was scathing in his criticism of the performance and Capello's tactics in the friendly match against the Czech Republic last month, claiming that the Italian was “killing” Steven Gerrard by deploying him on the left side of midfield. Capello sought to clear the air with Redknapp when their paths crossed at Fratton Park recently, but he still felt the need last night to send out a message to his fellow managers to show more respect to the man in charge of the national team.

“I am the England manager,” Capello said. “I respect the club managers and I want them to respect me also. Sometimes criticism is OK, sometimes it's not. It depends on the opinion everyone has about football. Some managers spoke about the game against the Czechs, but I never speak or comment about the games that I watch, the club games.”

Capello knows that, after some mixed performances in his first five friendly matches in charge, there is pressure on England to beat Andorra convincingly in the Olympic Stadium, before proceeding to a more searching examination against Croatia in Zagreb on Wednesday. Rio Ferdinand, the central defender and vice-captain, may not be fit to face Croatia, having been ruled out of this evening's match with a back injury. Matthew Upson, the West Ham United defender, will deputise.

Capello also defended his controversial decision to omit Michael Owen, England's most prolific goalscorer of recent times, from his squad for the matches, saying that the Newcastle United forward is not fit enough after missing the start of the season with a calf injury.

“I know what you think about Michael Owen,” he said. “I know he scores goals, but I saw his last game in the Premier League and I decided he was not fit for this game. You have to be fit to play for the national team in a competitive game. For the next games it is possible he will be here.”

In Owen's absence, Jermain Defoe will continue alongside Wayne Rooney in attack. Capello has given serious consideration to the idea of having Theo Walcott in the starting line-up, but the Arsenal teenager, who has been impressive in training this week, is expected to be used as a substitute.

The other main decision is who plays on the left side of midfield, where Stewart Downing, the Middlesbrough winger, may edge out Joe Cole, of Chelsea.

England beat Andorra 3-0 on their previous visit to Barcelona in March 2007, under Steve McClaren, but that was a torrid evening during which England failed to look convincing against such modest opposition. John Terry, the captain, talked last night of a “fear of failure” among the squad and suggested that the players will be criticised if they do not win handsomely, but Capello simply wants an uplifting victory to get their World Cup qualifying campaign off to a positive start.

“This is the start of the road to South Africa,” Capello said. “I have to think about this game and the first result. It's very important to start with three points and it will be very important in this game to score a goal early. After this match we will speak about Croatia. Again, there, the most important thing will be the result. People will talk about one goal, two, three, four, five, but that is stupid. The important thing is that we win.”

ANDORRA UNCOVERED

Total area 181 square miles (468 sq km)

Population About 72,500

Life expectancy 83.53 (the highest in the world)

Motto Virtus unita fortior (our strength is greater united)

Lowest point Riu Runer, 840 metres

Best known for Avalanches, ski tourism, being a tax haven

Famous Andorra residents Montserrat Caballé, opera singer; Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario, former tennis player; Ana Arce, photographer and former skip of Andorra curling team who once produced a calendar with photos of naked curlers

Little-known fact Was “at war” with Germany for 44 years as a result of someone forgetting to include it in the Treaty of Versailles that ended the First World War

Fifa world ranking No 186