As part of our campaign to help Fabio Capello learn English, perhaps we should add “you are the new captain”, to our phrases page, with the new England manager likely to select a new captain for the game against Switzerland on February 6.
New England manager Fabio Capello is expected to name his England squad this week for his first game in charge of England in two week’s time and it looks highly likely that the Italian’s first job will be to declare a new captain.
Current captain John Terry is likely to miss the friendly with the Euro 2008 co-hosts due to a broken foot which gives Fabio an added quandary.
Current Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who was hotly tipped to replace David Beckham as the arm-band bearer, was expected to take the role although the Liverpool midfielder performed poorly in the two games, Russia and Croatia, in which he stood in for Terry.
That leaves Rio Ferdinand as the other possible candidate for the role.
The central defender, who plays alongside Terry, has worn the captain’s arm-band for Manchester United on a temporary basis and was previously captain at Leeds United in the season before his £30m move across the Pennines.
But amid the speculation, Chelsea captain Terry remains optimistic about his England prospects.
“The captaincy is a decision for Mr Capello to make,” said Terry in the Daily Mirror.
“All I can do is work hard and then keep training and playing, and wait to speak to the manager to see what he decides.
“Whatever he decides I will fully respect that decision and my aim will be to get in the team and play very well.
“I haven’t spoken to him yet and I do have to speak to him, but I’m looking forward to working with him.
“I need to get myself back. But once I get fit for Chelsea and back playing again, hopefully he can watch me and I can prove myself.
“It’s a fresh start for everybody, so we’ve got a clean slate and we all go from here really.”
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