New England boss Fabio Capello insists he will be fully fluent in English within a month.
Italian to be fluent in a 'month'
New England boss Fabio Capello insists he will be fully fluent in English within a month.
Capello was introduced by the Football Association at a media conference on Monday - which was broadcast live on
Sky Sports News.
The Italian had to face a barrage of questions, all of which he answered in Italian and then through a translator, but he insists a language barrier will not be an issue for long.
"I believe that it is very important to communicate to the players and I will undergo a strict routine with myself and I will apply myself everyday to communicate with the players," Capello said.
"I am convinced that in one month when the national team meets, I will be able to talk English.
"Like I said earlier it is an honour and it is a dream come true, a job that everyone wants and as everyone knows, there are great expectations and I will work with the FA to achieve these.
"I unofficially started yesterday watching Super Sunday, from now on my main objective is to meet the players and the coaches. I am convinced this is a great team and I can achieve great things."
Money
Capello is reportedly being paid over £4million a year, but he insisted that had little to do with his decision to take the job.
"Money is only a secondary issue, it is important, but secondary, the main issue is one of results," he said.
FA chief executive Brian Barwick interjected, adding: "I think it is important for people to realise that over the next four years the income of the FA could be over a billion pounds and it is a very small percentage of that figure and if Fabio is the person to turn England around then it is value for money."
Capello also revealed that it was his idea to bring in an English coach into his backroom staff.
"Since the first day I spoke with Sir Trevor Brooking I have asked for an England coach to be integrated into the staff, I think it is vital we have someone who understands the league and is from the environment," he said.
"The staff I have brought in have worked with me in Rome, Turin and Madrid and with them I will bring in English staff and when you manage, you need to be surrounded by people who understand you."
He was also quizzed on whether he would be making drastic changes to England's playing style.
"I have to watch all the England games from the qualifying but I believe the style will largely depend on the players available to me," he said.
"I believe there should be a style of play but you should also be flexible."
On his own management style, which is perceived to be a harsh one, he added: "I believe a strict style of coaching is only something you can apply if you are with them on a daily basis, so I will have to learn and will decide when I meet the players.
"Being the manager of England is very different and of course my behaviour will have to change."
Beckham
Capello also talked of his past relationship with English football, insisting he was always a fan of football in England.
"When I used to be a scout [at Milan] I brought Ray Wilkins and Mark Hateley to AC Milan and I worked very closely with them and David Beckham at Real Madrid."
When pressed on the Beckham issue and whether he would hand him his 100th cap in his first game in charge against Switzerland in February, he failed to offer a definitive answer.
"I had a contrasting relationship [with Beckham in Madrid] but in the end he demonstrated he was a great man and a great player," he said.
"I believe if he sets himself a target he will achieve it, but I will have to make choices. There is over a month and plenty of time for these decisions to make.
"I have just arrived, there are many things to think about, give me some time and I will make my decisions.
"I have spoken about Beckham and I believe a spot in the England squad should be deserved through behaviour, play and attitude.
"I am very luck to go through to next Autumn without the pressure of qualification, this will give me time to get a group together.
"I believe that English people have the will to win and it is a matter of getting that out of them, and I hope I can do this."
Previous England coaches have clashed with club bosses but Capello does not envisage an issue in this department.
"I have always had an excellent relationship with Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson, as with the two big Spanish coaches Rafa Benitez and Juande Ramos and there will be no problem working with them," he said.
"I believe there is a parallel between English and Spanish football, although it is important you should look at the club - we need a philosophy in the international team so we can get the results."
Azzurri
Talking of his Italian roots, Capello insisted being a foreign appointment was not his concern and that he had no qualms about possibly facing Italy in the future as he never wanted to manage the Azzurri in any case.
"This [a foreign appointment] was a choice of the FA not mine, I was one of the candidates and the decision was not mine," he said.
"I hope to be different and I accepted this task because I hope I can do this.
"To be honest I have never wanted to manage Italy and those close to me know that very well and that is with all the respect to the Italian team, who I greatly admire."
