As they gave their first impressions of life under Fabio Capello, England’s players likened the buzz that the Italian manager’s arrival has created to that of the first day at a new school, but their toughest of new taskmasters has left them in no doubt as to what he expects of them. He spelt out that he cannot abide losing and wants to turn England into winners — even if it means “winning ugly”.
The Capello era kicks off in earnest tomorrow evening against Switzerland at Wembley, the first of five friendly matches planned before the World Cup qualifying campaign starts in September, but the England manager has warned his players that he will not tolerate the culture of under-achievement that resulted in their failure to qualify for this year’s European Championship finals. He has also made it clear, by omitting David Beckham from the squad, that reputations will count for nothing in the new regime.
“My first impression of him is that he is certainly a winner,” Steven Gerrard, the Liverpool captain, said. “As a player, when you go into your first meeting, you look for certain things and the first thing that came across to me was that he’s a winner and doesn’t like getting beaten.
He wants to instil a winning team. He never once mentioned individuals. It was all about the team winning.”
Rio Ferdinand was equally impressed by a manager whom he expects to introduce a different philosophy to English football — that of winning at any cost. “His mentality is driven towards winning,” the Manchester United defender said. “We saw in the past when he went to Real Madrid, a team with characteristics of playing the beautiful game. He went there and did not necessarily play the football that the Madrid fans wanted, but he got results.
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“If we don’t play quite how everybody wants us to \ we get results, that’s great. It’s a results business and I don’t want to finish my career not having at least been in the final, to have the opportunity to win something for England.”
During an illustrious coaching career at club level with, among others, AC Milan, Juventus and Real Madrid, Capello has frequently shown an uncompromising streak. That has resurfaced with England, with his decision to omit Beckham from the squad for tomorrow’s friendly, which some observers believed offered the ideal opportunity to award the 32-year-old a 100th international cap.
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Ferdinand, though, has no qualms with Capello’s decision. “Maybe if you asked ten other managers what they’d have done, nine of them would have done it,” Ferdinand said. “But the manager’s made his decision. That’s what he’s paid for. We’re there to be picked, not to pick anyone or have any ideas or reactions to who has been picked. If we’re going to be successful, we live or die by his decisions. There’s no sentiment to him.”
Nor is there any sentiment with regard to the captaincy, which is no longer John Terry’s to lose. Capello is eager to try Ferdinand and Gerrard in the role, as well as Terry when he is fit, before deciding who will be his leader on the pitch.
Shaun Wright-Phillips, the Chelsea winger, sat out training yesterday evening as a precaution. He will be assessed today and could still feature against Switzerland. As for Capello’s first team selection, his players remain in the dark. “Everybody has a clean slate and nobody is assured of a starting spot,” Gerrard said, “so these friendlies are really important.”