Baldini demands 'more skill' from team

Fabio Capello's right-hand man, Franco Baldini, has criticised the lack of "technical skill" in the England squad - and said that the players have to get used to double training sessions while on international duty so that they can improve their passing.

Baldini, who holds the title of England's general manager under the new regime and is a major influence on Capello, acknowledged that the tougher approach, working the players harder before games, might not go down well with Premier League managers.

"We need more technical skill," Baldini said. "We have to practise, practise, practise. Unfortunately, we have the players just for a few days every two months and so, on this occasion, we made four training sessions [instead of two]. Maybe some managers here [in England] will not approve of this, but we have to try at all times so that we can do that."

Sir Alex Ferguson et al would undoubtedly agree with that and, interestingly, it is part of Baldini's job to liaise with the clubs and explain the new approach. The 47-year-old, who has worked alongside his fellow Italian Capello for most of the past decade, is himself a former player, and his importance to the set-up should not be under-estimated. Indeed, Capello insisted on his appointment when he was asked to take the job, even though it meant creating a new position.

Baldini's ideas are certainly a reflection of what Capello truly thinks and he added that the English game needed to change drastically. "We are trying to play more with the ball because the English culture is after two, three horizontal passes the crowd is asking for the ball [gestures through the air[," he said in the wake of the 2-1 friendly victory over Switzerland on Wednesday evening.

"We have to try and play more. We have to play with more confidence because it's easier to play when the ball is at your feet. So we have to try and incorporate this confidence in our game, in our self, to give us more chances. Some things were good in this game, some things not. But it was good enough from my point of view."

That view is shared by Capello and the rest of the back-room staff who have been put in place since the appointment in December. Indeed, Baldini said that the assessment after the Swiss game was that the four training sessions - two on Monday and two on Tuesday in which they tried to get their ideas across - were of greater worth than the match.

"We want to arrive in September to start the World Cup qualification campaign in a better way," Baldini explained. "What's more important at this time is the training, not the match. The match is, of course, important because 90,000 people are in the stadium and that's very exciting for us but, at this moment, it's more important that we have the chance to train." Asked if he expected England to eventually adapt to the "Italian way" of playing he added: "No, this is England. England have to play like England. But maybe a little bit better."

The most telling phrase there, of course, was the final one. Baldini and Capello are acutely aware of the improvements that need to be made even if, generally, they were pleased with the performance against the Swiss.

It is understood that the displays of David Bentley, who surpassed expectations, Steven Gerrard, Jermaine Jenas, Gareth Barry and Matthew Upson, who has been very receptive to Capello's ideas, were picked out for praise by the Italian's camp. They also believe, however, that there are up to "four or five" positions which are currently filled by "average players" which may have the two full- backs, Ashley Cole and Wes Brown, in particular, looking nervously over their shoulders.

Capello is also understood to be fully committed to the idea of giving David Beckham his 100th cap - but remains adamant that the midfielder simply was not fit enough to have featured this week and would, indeed, have been in danger of embarrassing himself if he had been selected. The most obvious fixture for him to reach his landmark is the fixture away to Trinidad & Tobago which has been pencilled in for June. Capello remains an admirer and is also still appreciative of how Beckham played after he returned to the Real Madrid team last season when Capello managed the club.

The Italians also feel the performance fully justified their decision to omit Michael Owen and it appears that the Newcastle United striker is going to have to work extremely hard to convince them that he is worthy of a place in a team whose shape does not suit his game.

Baldini, meanwhile, said that there should be no surprise at the rules - such as banning the use of mobile phones at certain times and eating together - set down by Capello on the squad's behaviour. "It's normal and it helps the players stay together," he said.

Copyright c 2008 Independent Newspapers UK Limited. All rights owned or operated by The Independent.
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.