Abby Brammell

By Matt Lawton, Chief Football Correspondent in Warsaw

Leader of the pack: John Terry celebrates Chelsea's win over Arsenal on Sunday


Fabio Capello broke his silence on the John Terry scandal on Sunday night by insisting that the disgraced Chelsea defender remains an integral part of his World Cup plans.
Less than 48 hours after stripping Terry of the England captaincy in a 10-minute meeting at Wembley, Capello spoke briefly here of the role the defender still has to play in South Africa this summer.

‘John Terry is still an important player for England,’ said Capello. ‘He is one of the most important players for England. But it is all over, it is finished, it is time to move on.’

In Warsaw for the Euro 2012 qualifying draw, Capello’s decision to sack Terry received support from an unlikely source - Russia and former Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink.

‘Fabio made the right decision,’ said Hiddink, who then insisted that Terry would bounce back from the controversy.

‘I know his spirit. He will fight to regain the level he is usually up to.’
That view was echoed by Croatia manager Slaven Bilic, who declared Terry to be
‘a tiger and a lion’.


Troubled, clearly, by the events of the last week, Capello was unusually belligerent in response to many questions.

He insisted he had no desire to discuss anything beyond the draw and no wish even to express his views on the appointment of Rio Ferdinand as Terry’s successor.

Officially, Capello has yet to announce Ferdinand as the new England captain. And while contact with Ferdinand has been made by his assistant, Franco Baldini, Capello says he has no intention of speaking to the Manchester United defender until the England squad meet for the friendly with Egypt at Wembley on March 3.

Rarely has the Italian been quite so ice cold.

‘I decided when I was England manager, I decided captain, vice-captain and third captain,’ said Capello. ‘You know everything, so why ask the same question?

‘I want to speak about this question, but first I want to speak with Rio, the other players. We will speak about the new captain then. I want to speak with them before everything.

‘Usually I prefer to speak with the players, not the journalists. I understand you, but you have to understand me. I decided everything after I spoke with John Terry, but I prefer to speak with the players first.’

With Steven Gerrard now promoted to the position of vice-captain, it is thought that Frank Lampard will be third in line, ahead of Wayne Rooney.


source: dailymail