• ‘It was time for John Terry to return,’ says Fabio Capello • Irritated Capello admits Ferdinand turned down meeting Fabio Capello has defended his decision to take the England captaincy off Rio Ferdinand and replace him with John Terry, but admits he has regret at how the situation was handled. Terry’s return as captain following a 13-month exile after allegations about his private life has dominated the headlines in the buildup to Saturday’s game with Wales, while it has been reported that Capello did not tell Ferdinand that he was being replaced as captain before the story emerged in the media. “Look it could have been done something better but it is the past,” Capello said. “I respect the players, I respect all the people and sometime I regret what really happened, but it’s possible to do something better.” Ferdinand’s absence through injury, plus that of the vice-captain Steven Gerrard, meant that Capello had a captaincy decision to make, and he believes he has made the right choice. “Something happened in my mind when I saw the armband being passed around during our game in Copenhagen [against Denmark],” he said. “We changed it in the second half and it was unfair for John Terry to see this. I thought that it was time for John Terry, after punishment, to return and be captain. “I know that Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard are not fit. I knew it was the moment, with one game which is so important, to have one captain like John Terry.” Capello said he attempted to discuss the situation with Ferdinand when he attended Manchester United’s Champions League match against Marseille on 15 March but the defender rejected to chance to meet the England manager. “I tried to meet him [Ferdinand] when Manchester United played against Marseille but he told me no. I can understand everything, but I need to make decisions. I think I will be happy and will meet him [Ferdinand] in the future.” When pressed as to whether or not he had spoken to Ferdinand at any stage a visible irritated Capello responded defensively. “It didn’t happen, he didn’t come. It’s a question for him, not for me. I was in the directors’ box. You have to ask him, OK?” Capello said he consulted several players before reinstating Terry as captain. “I spoke with the players and personally with some players, and I spoke with the squad before I decided that John Terry will be the captain, and all the players were happy because John Terry was always a very important leader on the pitch and to the team.” Fabio Capello England John Terry Rio Ferdinand guardian.co.uk
• ‘It was time for John Terry to return,’ says Fabio Capello • Irritated Capello admits Ferdinand turned down meeting Fabio Capello has defended his decision to take the England captaincy off Rio Ferdinand and replace him with John Terry, but admits he has regret at how the situation was handled. Terry’s return as captain following a 13-month exile after allegations about his private life has dominated the headlines in the buildup to Saturday’s game with Wales, while it has been reported that Capello did not tell Ferdinand that he was being replaced as captain before the story emerged in the media. “Look it could have been done something better but it is the past,” Capello said. “I respect the players, I respect all the people and sometime I regret what really happened, but it’s possible to do something better.” Ferdinand’s absence through injury, plus that of the vice-captain Steven Gerrard, meant that Capello had a captaincy decision to make, and he believes he has made the right choice. “Something happened in my mind when I saw the armband being passed around during our game in Copenhagen [against Denmark],” he said. “We changed it in the second half and it was unfair for John Terry to see this. I thought that it was time for John Terry, after punishment, to return and be captain. “I know that Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard are not fit. I knew it was the moment, with one game which is so important, to have one captain like John Terry.” Capello said he attempted to discuss the situation with Ferdinand when he attended Manchester United’s Champions League match against Marseille on 15 March but the defender rejected to chance to meet the England manager. “I tried to meet him [Ferdinand] when Manchester United played against Marseille but he told me no. I can understand everything, but I need to make decisions. I think I will be happy and will meet him [Ferdinand] in the future.” When pressed as to whether or not he had spoken to Ferdinand at any stage a visible irritated Capello responded defensively. “It didn’t happen, he didn’t come. It’s a question for him, not for me. I was in the directors’ box. You have to ask him, OK?” Capello said he consulted several players before reinstating Terry as captain. “I spoke with the players and personally with some players, and I spoke with the squad before I decided that John Terry will be the captain, and all the players were happy because John Terry was always a very important leader on the pitch and to the team.” Fabio Capello England John Terry Rio Ferdinand guardian.co.uk