Fabio Capello predicts a severe challenge for Manchester United in the aftermath of their trip to the Club World Cup. The squad landed in Tokyo yesterday following an 11-hour flight and do not resume their defence of the Premier League title until Boxing Day. Capello himself led Milan to Japan for the Intercontinental Cup, a forerunner event, at the end of both 1993 and 1994. It was only on the latter occasion that his team returned to win Serie A. "I know this very well," said Capello. "You have to deal with jet lag and play two games and the time you get to recover will be short. The players will be tired."
The England manager has just returned from a holiday in South Africa and has already taken the team far along the way to qualification for the 2010 World Cup finals. He is, all the same, open to further change. Capello's praise of Gabriel Agbonlahor, who made his full international debut in last month's victory over Germany in a friendly match, was a calculated warning to established players that they cannot take their place for granted. "He worked very well," said Capello. "When he played with his club it was the same level. This is very important. In the future he will be a very important player for us, same as [Theo] Walcott."
Agbonlahor was one of 10 players to appear for Aston Villa at the weekend and Capello seems appreciative of the resources available to him at the Midlands club. He is considering bringing the winger James Milner into the full England squad. "He was very, very interesting when we saw him play for the under-21s at Southampton [against the Republic of Ireland in February]," said the manager. "I thought he was a good player." Capello, typically, wanted to keep better-known footballers on their toes.
There were, for instance, no special words of encouragement for Michael Owen, despite his return to scoring form. "I need time," he said, "and then I can check Michael and all the players." Capello, speaking on his return from holiday yesterday morning, believes his emphasis must now lie on building on the work already done. "It is easy to progress when you start at the bottom and go up. Now we have to bond together to take the next step. It will be very difficult."
Capello, all the same, is evidently enjoying himself. "The referees whistle not a lot," he said with some amusement of English football.
There seemed to be some sympathy for David James, the Portsmouth veteran goalkeeper, but it was qualified. "At this moment he is the one," said Capello. It is sure, all the same, that James and all other players will have to go on proving themselves, starting with the friendly against Spain in February.
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