England employ psychologist to inspire World Cup bid
'Chimp' and 'gremlin' technique has helped British cyclists to Olympic gold and Tour de France wins
Sports psychologist Steve Peters has been called on to give England renewed hope at the World Cup, having worked wonders for Britain’s cyclists at the Olympics and helped Liverpool’s Premier League title challenge.
“He has got a fantastic record,” England manager Roy Hodgson said ahead of his side’s friendly international against Denmark at Wembley on Wednesday. “We are happy we have got the man we wanted.”
England have performed dismally at the last two major tournaments, having been outclassed by Germany in the round of 16 at the South Africa World Cup in 2010 and losing to Italy on penalties in the quarter-finals of Euro 2012.
Penalty shoot-outs have been the Achilles heel of a succession of England teams, although Hodgson said Peters had not been signed up purely to remedy that problem.
“I understand that the headlines will be ‘England can’t score a penalty’ so Steve Peters will make sure we make five out of five – that will be very tough because Steve quite rightly said he won’t be able to help us to do that," Hodgson said.
“What he might be able to help us do, and especially the players, is to make sure they are mentally better prepared for any challenge in front of them.
“Penalty shoot-outs may be one, but there are also a lot of minutes of football to be played, so we are looking for his help in this area as well.”
Psychologists are widely used in sporting environments and Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard said having Peters on board was great news for England’s chances of success in Brazil.
“Steve Peters is not the type that is in your face forcing you to see him, you know,” said Gerrard, who has worked with Peters at club level.
“He leaves it totally to yourself, but I am always trying to take any advantage I can get it. If Steve can get get them that 1 or 2 per cent extra to what I already got, I am going to see him.”
One of his techniques is known as “chimp” and “gremlin” management.
“There are two aspects of your brain that work independently of each other with a third back-up system that both utilise,” Peters, who worked with Team Sky, has said previously.
“One is quite emotional and irrational; the other is logical, capable of making good judgments. I call the emotional thinking system ‘the Chimp’.
“As for the Gremlins, these represent negative beliefs or behaviours that have the potential to inhibit performance. I also help to uncover the gremlins and then help riders to remove them.”
How his methods work with England’s millionaire footballers remains to be seen but he will surely be taken more seriously than faith healer Eileen Drewery, who Glenn Hoddle hired to work with his England team at the 1998 World Cup finals.
“We have to make sure that all benefits that might help us win more matches and go further in the tournament are exploited,” Hodgson said.
“He will really come into his own when we are in the tournament and he has time to work with the players, rather than the day or two around friendlies.”
England face Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica in group D at this year’s finals.
