Capello turns his back on his saviour

Fabio Capello’s job as England manager once hung by such a thin thread that even troubled Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson would have felt sympathy for the Italian. However, thanks to Hodgson’s skipper at Anfield, Capello remains in his highly paid role, and the Telegraph’s Henry Winter claims he has turned his back on the man who saved him...

England expect to defeat Montenegro at Wembley on Tuesday evening, so claiming the high ground in Group G and moving within touching distance of Euro 2012, but Fabio Capello risks a cacophony of catcalls if they slip up.

England’s manager has stripped the captaincy from Steven Gerrard, who saved the Italian’s job with his performances this season, and handed the armband to Rio Ferdinand, who has lost the honour at Manchester United. Capello the cautious has taken a gamble.

If Gerrard channels the emotion from his disappointment positively, conjuring up a match-winning display, then Capello can afford to feel smug and vindicated. But if Gerrard appears inhibited or distracted, contrasting with his outstanding displays against Hungary, Bulgaria and Switzerland, then Capello will be assailed with questions.

The captaincy debate occupies so many minds, phone-ins and column inches because Capello has prevaricated in recent weeks, indicating after the success against Switzerland on Sept 7 that Gerrard might continue in the post, a suggestion he repeated on Oct 3, so raising the midfielder’s hopes.

He should have informed Gerrard after Basle that it was always his plan for Ferdinand to regain the captaincy when fit. “I think this [the captaincy] is important for you,’’ said Capello to a small gathering of inquisitors in a spare dressing room at Wembley after training on Monday.

The captaincy was also “important’’ for the players trudging along the corridor towards the bus. “Yeah, I know,’’ Capello replied, “but I’m focused on the game.’’ Not yet. Capello first had to explain why he let Gerrard down in this uncaring manner.

He argued it was always his intention to reinstate Ferdinand, who acquired the captaincy following John Terry’s indiscretions. Now that Ferdinand’s back problem had eased, he was back. Simple. Not entirely. “I never change my rules,’’ Capello insisted. “I decided, and the players know, who the captain is, who the vice-captain is.’’

Judging by recent confusing comments, his rules carried riders. “I preferred to decide it at the last minute. I wait [to see] if the player would be fit the day before the game. I spoke with Rio individually this morning. He’s a good captain. He’s a leader on the pitch. I spoke individually with Steve yesterday evening and he understands everything. I was really happy when he played like a captain, with a fantastic performance every time. But the rules are really important.’’ So why intimate otherwise?

Capello even seemed unsure whether Ferdinand was still United captain despite the fairly wide publicity given to Sir Alex Ferguson passing the armband to Nemanja Vidic. “I don’t know what Sir Alex decided. That’s a club problem.”

England’s manager was then asked whether he would still be in charge if Gerrard had not scored those two goals against Hungary on Aug 11, so easing the post-World Cup pressure.
“Yes, yes, yes. But he is a really good player, a really good man, and he will be really important for us in every moment. I think he will play the same as with the armband every game. I told him he’s a fantastic captain and he will play much better [against Montenegro] than in the other games.’’

Let’s hope so. England need a focused force like Gerrard, driving the team on from his central station alongside Gareth Barry.