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Capello protecting Terry from 'destruction'

Fabio Capello talks to the media © Getty Images

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Soccernet can exclusively reveal that Fabio Capello considered four key criteria when assessing whether to strip John Terry of the England captaincy, with a desire to prevent the defender being "destroyed" by media pressure key to his eventual decision.

The England boss brought the axe down on Terry's reign as skipper on Friday, and his decision was made after considering several factors, according to a source close to the England boss.

"The decision was based on the thinking about what was best for the team, the dynamics of the dressing room, respect for each other within the squad, and also to avoid the intense pressures on the player," the source told Soccernet.

The England insider revealed that Capello wanted to save Terry from being "destroyed" by the deluge of accusations and media scrutiny on his private life. Capello did not consider it the appropriate time to attempt to explain that particular reasoning to Terry, but the Italian is adamant the decision was also made for his own good.

"Fabio Capello is only interested in England doing their best in the World Cup and John Terry is one of his best players," the source said. "He [Capello] wanted to ensure that he didn't turn up at the World Cup destroyed by everything going on in his private life. By taking the decision he did, he feels it will relieve some of this pressure."

Terry was described as "a little fish in the seas hunted by a shark", and there was a real fear for the England boss that if he failed to relieve the pressure in some way, that the nation's best centre-half would arrive in South Africa a broken man.

"It is, of course difficult to say whether it is the right decision or the wrong decision," the source said. "But Fabio Capello was primarily thinking about what was best for the team, and he thinks this is right for the team.

"Fabio talked deeply to John Terry, and the meeting lasted half an hour, not the 12 minutes reported, it was at least half an hour. Fabio tried to explain some of the reasons, but not all. He was told that this was 'best' for the moment."

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