Fab-bergasted
Last updated: 23rd January 2008
Capello: animated on the touchline last season
When Capello coaches you it is basically like he is running an institution.
Guillem Ballague
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Revista de la Liga experts Guillem Balague and Graham Hunter have warned England's players that they will be in for a shock under Fabio Capello's strict regime.
Spanish football expert Balague believes that Capello will be as tough on his new players as he was during his second Real Madrid stint last season.
This season, the La Liga champions have carried on from where they left off at the end of last year by topping the table and are currently seven points clear of Barcelona.
Balague feels that new coach Bernd Schuster has not changed a great deal about the team, apart from having a more relaxed outlook than the disciplinarian approach of Capello.
Balague told Revista de la Liga: "To be honest, the way Real Madrid play now is very similar to (how they played under) Capello.
"They defend deep, they are very generous with their defensive effort, they counter-attack, but it's inside the changing rooms that things have changed.
"You've got Robinho always playing no; that didn't happen with Capello, but it's more than that.
Happier
"Marcelo the left back admitted it himself: 'We're happier. Everybody can take their ipods to the changing rooms and can use their mobile phones. There is more relaxation, more jokes'.
"That did not happen with Capello. When Capello coaches you it is basically like he is running an institution."
Graham Hunter also feels that England's players will have to get used to the Italian's stringent methods when he gets down to business with his new squad of players.
"Capello basically reinstituted the idea of hard work on a daily basis at Real Madrid," said Hunter.
"It basically took them the first half of the season to get used to it.
"Capello would prepare for a big game by taking the team to a hotel - you don't see the family, you prepare mentally and physically.
"England players can expect to see the same sort of heavy handed touch if he's not happy with their work-rate."
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