Terry wary of becoming the fall guy
Source: Agencies |
March 24, 2011, Thursday
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THIRTEEN months after being stripped of the England captaincy, John Terry knows he will be the fall guy if the team's results take a turn for the worse after regaining the armband.
England's buildup to Saturday's 2012 European Championship qualifier against Wales has been overshadowed by coach Fabio Capello's decision to restore the captaincy to Terry, having previously taken it away following allegations about the Chelsea defender's private life.
"I'm not daft," Terry said ahead of the trip across England's western border to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. "If we go there and win the game, it'll be a great stepping stone for us. If we don't get the right result, I know where the fingers will be pointing. I'm not silly. I'm a grown man and I'm prepared to deal with that."
The captain of a team is usually a unifying force. Not so with England, where Terry accepts he's "not going to be everybody's cup of tea."
"It's not important at any football club and we are no different here," he said. "There are certain players at clubs who don't get on with each other. We know that, that's life."
There were no dissenters, however, at training on Tuesday morning in front of Capello.
"He called us together, he spoke, saying 'John will be permanent captain again, He's done well on and off the field over the last year. Anyone got any questions or things to say?,'" Terry recalled. "No one said anything ... so I'll respect anyone who comes to me personally and we deal with it one on one."
But facing a hostile media made Terry anxious.
"I had the worst night's sleep ever (on Monday)," he said. "I was pretty nervous to be honest. Coming out today and having to deal with the questions and stuff like that. It was like the first day back at school, really, an intimidating thing, even though I've been in this position many times before."
Terry maintained that Rio Ferdinand is not bitter despite his reign as captain lasting just 13 months. Injuries have restricted Ferdinand to just four England appearances in that time.
There have been suggestions that Capello's authority, already diminished after a dismal World Cup, has faded further.
"Capello clearly felt Terry's reputation or behavior did not make him an appropriate captain for England, so he took his decision," Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish said. "Where the confusion lies is he has now overturned that decision. It raises a lot of questions. If John was an unsuitable captain a year ago, what has changed now?"
England's buildup to Saturday's 2012 European Championship qualifier against Wales has been overshadowed by coach Fabio Capello's decision to restore the captaincy to Terry, having previously taken it away following allegations about the Chelsea defender's private life.
"I'm not daft," Terry said ahead of the trip across England's western border to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. "If we go there and win the game, it'll be a great stepping stone for us. If we don't get the right result, I know where the fingers will be pointing. I'm not silly. I'm a grown man and I'm prepared to deal with that."
The captain of a team is usually a unifying force. Not so with England, where Terry accepts he's "not going to be everybody's cup of tea."
"It's not important at any football club and we are no different here," he said. "There are certain players at clubs who don't get on with each other. We know that, that's life."
There were no dissenters, however, at training on Tuesday morning in front of Capello.
"He called us together, he spoke, saying 'John will be permanent captain again, He's done well on and off the field over the last year. Anyone got any questions or things to say?,'" Terry recalled. "No one said anything ... so I'll respect anyone who comes to me personally and we deal with it one on one."
But facing a hostile media made Terry anxious.
"I had the worst night's sleep ever (on Monday)," he said. "I was pretty nervous to be honest. Coming out today and having to deal with the questions and stuff like that. It was like the first day back at school, really, an intimidating thing, even though I've been in this position many times before."
Terry maintained that Rio Ferdinand is not bitter despite his reign as captain lasting just 13 months. Injuries have restricted Ferdinand to just four England appearances in that time.
There have been suggestions that Capello's authority, already diminished after a dismal World Cup, has faded further.
"Capello clearly felt Terry's reputation or behavior did not make him an appropriate captain for England, so he took his decision," Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish said. "Where the confusion lies is he has now overturned that decision. It raises a lot of questions. If John was an unsuitable captain a year ago, what has changed now?"
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