VIDEO: Capello ready for 'interesting' game
Tuesday, 29 March, 2011
Manager set to make changes tonight as Gareth Barry captains the side.
Click here for video footage of the press conference.
Fabio Capello reckons Gareth Barry's experience was crucial in his decision to name the Manchester City midfielder as England's stand-in captain for Tuesday's friendly with Ghana.
Barry will lead England out at Wembley on Tuesday, as John Terry has been released back to Chelsea for the game against the African nation.
Terry, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, Michael Dawson and Ashley Cole have all been allowed to return to their clubs following Saturday's 2-0 win over Wales in Euro 2012 qualify to lighten what has been a heavy schedule of games for all of them both domestically and internationally.
It leaves Barry, with 45 caps, as England's most experienced player for the Ghana clash and Capello said: "Barry has played many games with me. He is a really good player and captain.
"He has the experience - he is the player with the most caps out there for us."
Capello also spoke about his decision to allow six players to return to their clubs after the win in Wales at the weekend and explained that it was the high volume of games they had featured in recently, as well as the forthcoming schedule that made his mind up for him.
"They have played four games in ten days, that is a lot of games in a really short time," he said.
"I sent some players home because if you are tired, it's easy to get injured. The relationship with the clubs and England is really good."
There will be a number of changes to the team for the match and the England Manager has confirmed that Andy Carroll will start in attack, whilst there will also be something of a new-look defence on show.
"I think there will be seven changes to the team," he explained. "We will play Cahill, Jagielka and Leighton Baines in defence, we will play Andy Carroll and Gareth Barry will be the captain. If Parker is fit, he will play too.
"I respect the fans, and it will be interesting for the fans to see some players they know really well - it's interesting for me as well. It's important for the players to show spirit on the pitch.
"These players are really good players and they have been with us for a while, so it is important for them to play."
Capello was also asked about why a friendly game such as this is being played after a competitive match in Wales, just as the season heads into its busiest period, but the Italian revealed that it is the importance of getting the group together for a prolonged period of time which is important as well as the prospect of a game with Ghana, who reached the World Cup quarter final.
"We don't decide the dates on when we can play games and it was impossible to find a different date," he added.
"It's important for me and the players to play games against a team like Ghana, who are a very important team.
"Usually, we are together only two days at a time in the season, which is nothing. This time, we have ten days. If you want to improve, you need more training and more time to be together."
Buy the England v Ghana match programme at Wembley on Tuesday or online at www.TheFA.com/Programmes