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You asked, Capello answered – Part II

In the second of our two-part series, we put your tweets to ex-Italy midfielder and England manager Fabio Capello, who shared his thoughts on the best pro and playing 3-5-2.

You asked, Capello answered – Part II
You asked, Capello answered – Part II ©UEFA.com

In the second of our two-part series, former Italy midfielder and England manager Fabio Capello sat down with UEFA.com to answer more of your Twitter questions that came in using #AskCapello. Having won a host of league titles and a UEFA Champions League during his extensive coaching career, Capello used his vast experience to discuss the 3-5-2 formation, managing in different countries and the most professional players he has worked with.

To watch the full interview click the video box above.

@SivanJohn: What is the difference when it comes to coaching in Italy, Spain and England?

Fabio Capello: The difference is huge. Above all, if you'll allow me, I'd like to make a comment in relation to the journalists, who are the people that decide whether you are doing well or not. In Italy the TV has a huge influence, especially the private TV broadcasters, and all the comments that are made every day on those channels.

In England what I experienced as the national coach, is that you read the newspapers throughout the week about what is happening in the Premier League. This is contrary to what the Spanish or Italians think which is that the English press are less involved. I have to say that in the daily newspapers, either the political newspapers or the normal ones, you have at least seven or eight pages of sports coverage, and there are special competitions or events going on which take up a lot more pages. They have great potential to influence public opinion because they sell millions and millions of copies.

@Capel1: Who is the most dedicated professional you have ever managed?

Capello: I've been lucky to have coached a lot of very professional players. It depends a lot on which football school they came from, and at which club you are coaching. I'd say I've coached many great players and instead of giving names I would prefer to name a school or club.

For example, the AC Milan football school has very precise rules, a special way of working and also a lifestyle which affects the players coming from Milan. I could name the likes of [Franco] Baresi, [Paolo] Maldini and [Marco] Van Basten as examples but I'd be forgetting players who definitely deserve a mention.

If I take Juventus we could name [Alessandro] Del Piero or [Pavel] Nedvěd, who were great professionals. With Real Madrid I have to name Raúl [González] and [Fernando] Hierro. These players are real role models for all the other players. I'm sorry to have only named those, though, because there are other players who are worth mentioning.

@AntsJuventino: What do you think of the 3-5-2 formation, and how far can Italy go?

Capello: The 3-5-2 formation is, as I have always said, a more defensive system to play because normally if you defend then you defend with five defenders in one line. While in the past you played with a sweeper and two players whose job it is to mark, the so-called two stoppers. Now this sweeper plays on the same line as his team-mates. So you've always got one player behind you to cover and you play with five men behind the ball which is a very defensive system. But at the same time you have the two wing backs who can create a lot of danger down the wings. I have to say that when I won the domestic title with AS Roma we played with this system. I had Cafu on the right and [Vincent] Candela on the left.

@David_Is_Daft: Do you find more enjoyment in coaching than playing?

Capello: It's a different job. When you are a player, you train and lead a nice life and you try to stay at your peak physical and mental condition but after training you go home and you don't have to think about anything else. It's just great when you win matches. As a coach you have to think about everything you need and want to do. You have to think about preparing the training sessions, you have to analyse the opposition, you have to talk to your players and understand if there are any problems.

You definitely have to do something different, something more complex. When you achieve success you feel it's yours a lot more because you've worked and done something yourself. It's like building a house and you say it is a nice one and you are happy.

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