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Capello admits anger over scandals

Simon Stone,Pa
Friday 26 February 2010 18:48 GMT
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Fabio Capello (right) stripped John Terry or the captaincy
Fabio Capello (right) stripped John Terry or the captaincy (Reuters)

Fabio Capello has admitted he is upset at the scandals that have erupted around his England squad.

Capello is due to name his squad for next week's friendly with Egypt tomorrow, knowing he will be denied the services of Wayne Bridge.

The Manchester City full-back believes his position with England has been made "untenable" following the alleged affair between the mother of his young son, Vanessa Perroncel, and former Chelsea team-mate John Terry.

Capello has already stripped Terry of the England captaincy while Ashley Cole is now heading for a divorce after his wife Cheryl grew tired of alleged affairs by the full-back, who is currently sidelined by a broken ankle.

Capello is well aware of the focus being shifted away from players' performances on the pitch to what they are getting up to off it.

And, asked by CNN if he was upset by the stories, he said: "Yes. I am not lucky because I prefer the normal life and to speak about football, not personal lives.

"The next press conference will not be easy to speak about Egypt. A lot of questions will be about John Terry, Wayne Bridge and other things around their private life."

Capello may also remind his players about their wider responsibilities, knowing a nations' children are happy to make them heroes.

"The younger children look to these players as an example for life," said Capello.

"For that reason, you have to understand that everything that these players do in their personal lives is an example for the children."

If Capello does gather his players for a reminder of their responsibilities ahead of the Egypt game, it will be reinforcing a demand for respect that was issued when he first took the job.

Emile Heskey has already seen the anger messing about on a mobile phone in the team room can generate in the Italian.

Time-keeping is another issue for which Capello is a stickler.

He simply fails to understand why individuals should keep the majority waiting because of their own selfish actions.

"When I met the players for the first time I told them they had to respect all the people that work with me, around us and the other players.

"I want the respect at every moment. When we are eating, training, working, on the bus. Always.

"I don't understand why 25 or 26 people have to wait for one or two. It is about respecting the rules."

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