Sign in

Capello begins to breach language barrier

Despite the language barrier Capello, often portrayed as a stern disciplinarian, showed a lighter side to his character.

Updated on: Feb 5, 2008, 20:28:01 IST
Reuters | By , London Colony
Share
Share via
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
Copy link
  • copy link

When he was named England coach at the start of December Italian Fabio Capello, who spoke little English, said he would be fluent in his new language in a month.

HT Image
HT Image

On Tuesday he met the British media for the first time since then and said he was "happy with his English" and "I am speaking to the players in English".

However, Capello was praising his new skills in Italian through an interpreter.

Despite the language barrier Capello, often portrayed as a stern disciplinarian, showed a lighter side to his character.

"I will not speak to you in English until I am happy I have learned all the expressions and phrases I need," he said to reporters before his first game as England coach against Switzerland on Wednesday.

"You have a way of twisting words, so I will speak to you in English later on. But I speak to the players in English, I communicate with them in much easier English and we understand each other."

Capello used only one word in English throughout.

When asked what the players called him he replied: "Boss."

Stay updated with the latest scores, results, and headlines from us sports, wwe, football, tennis, hockey, and other sports. Follow live action, big tournaments, and top players across all major leagues on sports by Hindustan Times.