Fabio Capello’s rapport with the England FA “had been compromised for some time” and his interview was “throwing down the gauntlet,” said his friend Bruno Pizzul.
The manager resigned on Wednesday after giving an interview to Italian television criticising the FA’s decision to strip John Terry of the captain’s armband.
Fabio Capello’s rapport with the England FA “had been compromised for some time” and his interview was “throwing down the gauntlet,” said his friend Bruno Pizzul.
The manager resigned on Wednesday after giving an interview to Italian television criticising the FA’s decision to strip John Terry of the captain’s armband.
“It’s evident that the rapport with the FA had been compromised for some time,” legendary Italian commentator and personal friend Pizzul told Goal.com.
“The latest incident, taking Terry’s armband away against his wishes, was the final straw. After all, the fact a cautious man like Capello wanted to express his unhappiness so clearly, and the way in which he did it in a RAI interview last Sunday, makes you think.
“Considering the way he publicly manifested his disagreement, it seemed to me as if he was throwing down the gauntlet to the Federation.
“Even before that he had been perplexed at the organisation of English football and the way fixtures were put together around very important appointments for the national team, such as the World Cup and European Championships…
“Capello probably realised that once again there weren’t the right circumstances to achieve one of the important targets he had set for himself. The situation had become unsustainable.
“I doubt England can do well in Euro 2012 and losing their manager a few months before the tournament doesn’t change much. Capello had worked well and proved to be a leader, but the environment around him and the English media always looked at him diffidently.”
Pizzul also gave his view on Capello’s future, as the former Milan, Roma and Juventus boss has already returned to Italy.
“I really do think we should prepare to see Fabio in charge of an Italian team again. His return would be an important sign for our football, which counters the recent trend of tacticians leaving to work abroad.
“Even if he is a very expensive Coach, nobody can deny the charisma and character of Capello. It’s no mystery, for example, that in the past Massimo Moratti has thought about him more than once as Coach of Inter.”