Capello tells Terry: I am boss of England team

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LONDON - England coach Fabio Capello has reminded John Terry that he is in charge of the team, after the former skipper apologised for his press conference blunder.

Capello reacted after Terry suggested Chelsea teammate Joe Cole should play in Wednesday’s crucial World Cup match against Slovenia.

Terry claimed that Cole and Wayne Rooney were “the only two who can really open up things”.

But Capello told him he should show more respect. “Sometimes when you speak you have to be careful. The players may think individually but I have to think about the team. That’s what is important,” The Sun quoted him, as saying.

“I respect Joe Cole. But he’s one of 23 players here. All the players are on the bench but I think also when we speak about the players, about one single player, I think you have to respect the other players that played before,” Capello said.

Terry was persuaded not to raise what he claimed were issues the players wanted to speak off at a team meeting that was held on Monday night.

Fellow players, assistant boss Franco Baldini and Capello himself told him to keep quiet.

Asked if anything had been said at the meeting, during which the squad sat through the 0-0 draw with Algeria again, Capello said: “No, absolutely not. In the meeting we saw the game without comment.”

Terry said: “I went into Sunday’s press conference with the intention of being honest. I was asked a question about Joe Cole and maybe I went too far. But it was never my intention to upset the manager or the players and if I did upset anyone, I apologise.” (ANI)