Ferdinand eager to learn

New setup reminds Ferdinand of school days

By Peter Fraser   Last updated: 4th February 2008

Ferdinand Rio

Ferdinand: Back to school

If you asked anybody who is part of the England team and they said they didn't want to be captain they would be lying.

Rio Ferdinand
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Rio Ferdinand has compared life under England manager Fabio Capello to starting a new school.

Capello has taken charge of his first training session as England boss as he prepares for Wednesday's Wembley friendly with Switzerland.

And Manchester United defender Ferdinand has admitted that the England squad are keen to learn under Capello, who has had successful spells in charge of Milan, Juventus, Roma and Real Madrid.

"The only way I can describe it is like going to secondary school from primary school," Ferdinand told Sky Sports News.

Excitement

"You are intrigued and excited and you want to go out there and see what methods the new management have.

"We are all like school kids waiting to suck up all the information he has and hopefully it makes us a better team.

"It is inevitable there is going to be a difference. There are different personalities, different people and different cultures and hopefully we can get a good blend.

"The new manager has new ideas and he has been very successful with his club teams and hopefully he can bring that success and that knowledge to the England squad and we can become a successful team."

Captaincy claim

And Ferdinand has also reiterated his desire to be named Capello's new England captain in the injury absence of regular skipper John Terry.

Capello has hinted he will not decide on his permanent captain until England's first competitive fixture, the 2010 World Cup qualifier away to Andorra on 6th September, but Ferdinand is keen to lead out the side on Wednesday.

"It is a fantastic achievement for anybody." Ferdinand added. "If you asked anybody who is part of the England team and they said they didn't want to be captain they would be lying.

"Everybody wants to be captain and you dream about it as a child, but that is not the be all and end all.

"If we can get 11 leaders out there on the pitch, that is more important. We need to lead from the front as a team."