No one is Irreplaceable!

August 20, 2008

Capello has sent out a clear warning to the England players ahead of their preparation for the World Cup Qualifiers and that is that not even the captain is guaranteed his place in the team if he doesn’t perform.

“For me it is important to be captain but it is important what moment the players are in,” Capello said. “He will not be sure to play.

“The first eleven will be the best players for me, not because they are the captain. We have a vice captain, Rio Ferdinand.”

Capello is well aware that if he doesn’t get results he is the one who will get the chop.

“Sometimes in my career I spoke with the captain but usually I decide,” he said.

“I prefer that I decide everything. Always I speak with my staff and ask different questions. But the last decision is mine.

“I think it is very important to know a lot of players as captains. You have to know the players and then I choose from this. Not because someone told me this player is good, but because I made the decision.”

Capello has often kept the captain the same at his previous clubs but it was widely speculated that Ferdinand was getting the job and even Terry thought he might get it.

“I would have been really disappointed and I’m sure the players who didn’t get it feel the same way,” Terry said. “It’s been announced now and we can move forward.

“I was standing next to Rio and the first thing he did was shake my hand, which is great and shows what kind of man and character he is.

“You hear little whispers and with the form that Rio has been in and what Man Utd have achieved I did think he would get it.

“Rio has been in great form for Manchester United in the last couple of years. What he has achieved has been an example. We can all learn from that and it’s great that I beat players like that to the job.”

Terry plays a huge role at Chelsea and has held the dressing room together at times but he knows that his powers will be diluted somewhat as England captain.

“The manager said he takes control of all the tactics and all those big decisions and it’s my job to keep the players moving forward,” he said.

“When things are going smoothly it’s easy to run but when you have a defeat or people aren’t playing it’s my responsibility to keep these players happy and keep things moving forward.”

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