Managing Team England biggest challenge: Capello

ABU DHABI: His job is said to be the second most challenging one in United Kingdom after the prime minister. Fabio Capello seconded that to a certain extent when he admitted that “managing the England football team at the forthcoming World Cup in South Africa was the biggest challenge of my life.”

The 64-year-old Italian, who has whipped England into being one of the contenders for the quadrennial event, underlined it further saying, “I like challenges. Because at my age if don’t take challenges then I go home.”

England qualified with an all-win record making it their best ever start to World Cup campaign. Importantly, they pumped in 29 goals in eight games and conceded just five.

“We have a good team, good players and at this moment we think we can beat all the other teams,” he reasoned on the sidelines of the Laureus Awards 2010. He refused to answer queries related to off-field behavioural issues of players like John Terry but was candid while reflecting on it. “I knew that my job was on the pitch not off it. It is a new job (of handling off-field affairs).”

Capello waxed eloquent on striker Wayne Rooney, who is having a terrific run not only with the national team but also with his club Manchester United. “Rooney, Ronaldo and Messi are the best football players at the moment. Their playing styles are different. Rooney is strong and he has scored many goals (8 in qualifiers) this year.”

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