Fabio Capello Hits Out at Harry Redknapp's Double Standards Over Ledley King
Fabio Capello has accused Harry Redknapp of double standards over Ledley King's injury
Fabio Capello has accused the Tottenham Hotspur manager, Harry Redknapp, of double standards. The Premier League club were aghast when their captain, Ledley King, was called into the England squad for today's friendly against Slovakia and Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Ukraine despite his well-known knee condition. He joined the rest of the players on Monday, but was released the following day. Capello has now reacted strongly to Redknapp's criticism of the affair.
"I have to say something about Mr Redknapp," Capello said. "A Spurs player who is Scottish was in the squad after [four] months injured and yet he spoke about King and not about Alan Hutton." The right-back has not made a first-team appearance for Tottenham since damaging his foot in November, but he is currently with the Scotland squad and could be selected against Iceland on Wednesday. Scotland's manager George Burley had no comment to make.
Capello, though, was drawing an imperfect parallel. King suffers from a knee condition that has to be managed since it cannot be cured. The England coach still feels that there is a point of principle at stake. "I don't know if he has a problem," Capello said of King. "We have to check all the players."
He also pointed out that Steven Gerrard had been obliged to make the round trip from Liverpool to the London area to confirm that a groin strain really did rule him out of the friendly with Germany last November. All the same, King's case is distinctive. In the week's gap required between appearances he has to keep fit by swimming, yet Capello seems to think of him as someone suffering from a normal injury. "We wanted him in the squad," said the Italian. "England medical staff checked him and the first day they said he was not good. We waited one day to see if it was the same and then we decided he could go back to Spurs."
The logic lay in Capello's resolve to show that he treats King as a candidate. "He wasn't injured and I am happy to have spoken to the player," he said, "because now I know everything about his situation." Redknapp, originally fearful that an England appearance would render King unfit for next Saturday's fixture at Blackburn, has since stated that he would like to see him resume his international career when feasible.
Capello, president of the League Managers Association, remembered to add a conciliatory note. "There is no problem with Redknapp," he said. "It is his right to talk." The England manager was generally in a relaxed mood before this evening's friendly and he extolled the great form of another Tottenham player, Aaron Lennon, who may collect his first cap in two years.
There was no unease from Capello when asked about Wayne Rooney's irascible behaviour before and after being shown a red card at Fulham last Saturday. The manager joined David Beckham and the captain, John Terry, in highlighting the dangers of taking away the tempestuousness. "Rooney is a fantastic player and is one of the best at the moment," said Capello. "The temperament is very hot-blooded. We need the fire because it is the England spirit and I like the players who have that spirit. It would be no good if he lost that."
Terry declined to comment on reports that his mother and mother-in-law had been officially cautioned for shoplifting, but appeared unflustered. "I've seen different headlines over the years about myself and other things about family," he said. "You learn to deal with that."
Terry was happier to applaud Beckham, who will set an England record for an outfield player if he makes his 109th appearance today.
The atmosphere at the new Wembley has seldom been celebratory when England are there, however, and Ashley Cole was booed for the mistake in November that gave Kazakhstan a goal during their 5-1 defeat. Terry and Capello condemned this. "When you do make a mistake that's when you need the other players and the fans to lift you up again," said the captain.
Slovakia top their World Cup qualification group and could cause England enough concern without the crowd turning nasty.
"I have to say something about Mr Redknapp," Capello said. "A Spurs player who is Scottish was in the squad after [four] months injured and yet he spoke about King and not about Alan Hutton." The right-back has not made a first-team appearance for Tottenham since damaging his foot in November, but he is currently with the Scotland squad and could be selected against Iceland on Wednesday. Scotland's manager George Burley had no comment to make.
Capello, though, was drawing an imperfect parallel. King suffers from a knee condition that has to be managed since it cannot be cured. The England coach still feels that there is a point of principle at stake. "I don't know if he has a problem," Capello said of King. "We have to check all the players."
He also pointed out that Steven Gerrard had been obliged to make the round trip from Liverpool to the London area to confirm that a groin strain really did rule him out of the friendly with Germany last November. All the same, King's case is distinctive. In the week's gap required between appearances he has to keep fit by swimming, yet Capello seems to think of him as someone suffering from a normal injury. "We wanted him in the squad," said the Italian. "England medical staff checked him and the first day they said he was not good. We waited one day to see if it was the same and then we decided he could go back to Spurs."
The logic lay in Capello's resolve to show that he treats King as a candidate. "He wasn't injured and I am happy to have spoken to the player," he said, "because now I know everything about his situation." Redknapp, originally fearful that an England appearance would render King unfit for next Saturday's fixture at Blackburn, has since stated that he would like to see him resume his international career when feasible.
Capello, president of the League Managers Association, remembered to add a conciliatory note. "There is no problem with Redknapp," he said. "It is his right to talk." The England manager was generally in a relaxed mood before this evening's friendly and he extolled the great form of another Tottenham player, Aaron Lennon, who may collect his first cap in two years.
There was no unease from Capello when asked about Wayne Rooney's irascible behaviour before and after being shown a red card at Fulham last Saturday. The manager joined David Beckham and the captain, John Terry, in highlighting the dangers of taking away the tempestuousness. "Rooney is a fantastic player and is one of the best at the moment," said Capello. "The temperament is very hot-blooded. We need the fire because it is the England spirit and I like the players who have that spirit. It would be no good if he lost that."
Terry declined to comment on reports that his mother and mother-in-law had been officially cautioned for shoplifting, but appeared unflustered. "I've seen different headlines over the years about myself and other things about family," he said. "You learn to deal with that."
Terry was happier to applaud Beckham, who will set an England record for an outfield player if he makes his 109th appearance today.
The atmosphere at the new Wembley has seldom been celebratory when England are there, however, and Ashley Cole was booed for the mistake in November that gave Kazakhstan a goal during their 5-1 defeat. Terry and Capello condemned this. "When you do make a mistake that's when you need the other players and the fans to lift you up again," said the captain.
Slovakia top their World Cup qualification group and could cause England enough concern without the crowd turning nasty.
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