Capello plays down comparison with Ramsey

December 29, 2008

England have enjoyed a 100% record in their qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa which means that England are already one of the favourites for the tournament and this has brought comparisons between Capello and England World Cup winning manager Sir Alf Ramsey however Capello has been quick to play it down.

“Someone spoke to me about this big manager but we have to wait. He’s up here, I’m still down here.

“It’s a very long way to arrive at the level of Sir Alf Ramsey.”

“I hope you will speak about me. But not after 40 years! I hope you speak about me as a really important manager - but for the sake of English football not after 40 years,” Capello said.

England ended 2008 with a 2-1 win over arch rivals Germany and Capello admitted that he is happy with how things are going at the moment.

“It’s been step forward, step forward,” said Capello. “I’m very happy because the last game against Germany we played very well.

“I am a friend of the players but I prefer to stay at a distance.

“I stay with the players sometimes in the medical room with the physios but it’s not important to play cards or games with the players. It’s not important to me to be one of the lads.

“The important thing is respect. I always say a manager is one against 24 always - there is one boss, one leader being judged by 24 players, in every moment he is under scrutiny and it’s important the players know that is my role. The leader is the leader.”

“I prefer to speak together in a meeting. My meetings are focused on different points. Five, seven, eight or sometimes 10 points,” he said.

“I speak alone with a player when I can understand he is not in a good moment, to help him. And sometimes you want to speak to players individually when you want different things in a game. Only this.

“But I prefer the meeting always together with different points. Sometimes in the same meeting I speak about the keeper, I speak about defenders, forwards, the movement of the team.

“I think it’s very important all the players understand what I want and can see the mistakes we did. It’s very important.”

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