Source: Daily_Mail
England boss Fabio Capello: My team won't be bored or turn to booze in South Africa
With less than two months to the startof the World Cup, Fabio Capelloyesterday offered an update on hisplanning for South Africa andexplained why the financial crisis hasweakened the Premier League. [LNB] Gearing up: Fabio Capello [LNB]Q. No English teams have reached thelast four of the Champions League. IsEnglish football in decline? [LNB]A. Compared to the previous season, allthe clubs have sold important players,some went overseas, others moved toManchester City. They became obviouslyweaker. If a club is at the top, it shouldbuy every year one or two high-levelplayers to remain at the top. It is obviousthat the financial crisis has affected theEnglish clubs in Europe, after years whenthey were among the top spenders.Besides Manchester City, the mainexceptions were Real Madrid and InterMilan. Florentino Perez had to bring Realback into the frame, Inter Milan boughtsix new players. [LNB]Q. The clubs which spent most in thesummer Barcelona and Inter, forexample are now semi-finalists. [LNB]A. No surprises there. Investment isparamount, but it has to be right. Youhave to bring in players who adapt andblend into the team quickly and successfully.This, unfortunately, is not alwaysthe case. [LNB]Q. Besides the investment problems,what went wrong with ManchesterUnited?[LNB]A. They were unlucky, paying dearly fortheir mistakes. Like when they presentedBayern with the late second goal inMunich, and the first at Old Traffordwhen they were 3-0 up. But what reallymade the difference was Rafael's sendingoff, and Wayne Rooney's injury. Youcannot go through at this level with suchdisadvantages. [LNB] Massive blow: Injured Wayne Rooney[LNB]Q. What was your reaction when yousaw Rooney limping heavily again? [LNB]A. I perfectly understand Sir AlexFerguson's decision to play him becausehe knows how important Rooney ispsychologically for the whole team. I donot think he took an unnecessary risk. [LNB]Q. What about Chelsea and Arsenal? [LNB]A. Chelsea played very well in Milan. Asit happened, Inter played magnificentlyin the second leg, but on the whole it wasan even tie. Arsenal had to face a greatside like Barcelona, probably in their bestform of the season. Moreover, Arsenalhave been extremely unlucky, losing VanPersie, Fabregas, Arshavin, Gallas andRamsey. They needed them all. [LNB]Q. Is the failure of English clubs inEurope a bonus for you and England? [LNB]A. All the England players will beavailable for the start of our preparationin Austria. But it is only a relativeadvantage. When players win trophiesthey are happier, and I believe inpositive psychology. [LNB]Dark horse: Adam Johnson[LNB]Q. Are you happy with the state of yoursquad?[LNB]A. You can never be sure at this timeof the season, many unexpected thingscan happen. I just hope the players whoare out injured will recover by the end ofthe season. [LNB]Q. Will you make exceptions to yourrule of selecting only players whoare playing for someone like AshleyCole? [LNB]A. If Ashley Cole comes back by theend of the season it means he'sfit. He'll need to play, but this is abetter problem than having to getsomeone fit. [LNB]Q. Are you crossing your fingers atthe moment?[LNB]A. I just hope for the best, even crossingfingers does not seem to preventinjuries. The main thing is for all theEngland players to recover the formand freshness which allow us to dowell in the qualifying matches. [LNB]Q. Has any young English playercaught your eye this season? [LNB]A. Adam Johnson. He's come up fromthe Championship at Middlesbrough,where he played in a differentposition, and he's done well withManchester City. It's important hegets some international experience. [LNB]Q. Are you worried about theWembley pitch? [LNB]A. I was surprised to see playerssliding so much last Saturday. Giventhat Wembley is not only used forfootball games, I expect all will beadjusted once again. [LNB]Q. Are you happy with the trainingcomplex in South Africa? [LNB]A. At the start of May, FA officials willgo back for the final check, so we shallhave a definite appraisal, but thingsare proceeding well in Rustenburg. [LNB]Q. Why are you imposing an alcoholban on your players?[LNB]A. Nothing new here, alcohol hasalways been banned from all our HQs.And that goes for myself and my stafftoo. It means that we won't need to goto a health farm to detox, we'll do itin-house (laughs). [LNB] Close to return: Ashley Cole[LNB]Q. Concerned about the risk of boredomfor the players in South Africa? [LNB]A. We'll try to come up with creativepastimes. But do not expect me tosend them to the nearby casinos of SunCity (laughs). [LNB]Q. Wayne Rooney or Lionel Messi? [LNB]A. They are different players, butequally great. It's great to talk aboutthem. And Cristiano Ronaldo. Thethree of them together! And to thinkManchester United had two of them. [LNB]Q. Will you stay with England untilthe end of your contract in 2012, nomatter what? [LNB]A. As far as I am concerned there is noproblem.[LNB] Capello camps it up for World Cup! England squad set to sleep in special altitude tentsJack's the lad for World Cup: Coyle backs Wilshere for England Fabio rules: No Twitter, no Facebook and a limit on the WAGs Fabio Capello's Wembley pitch fears for England stars [LNB]
