Fabio Capello's England future to be decided by FA in two weeks

Paolo Bandini
guardian.co.uk, Monday 28 June 2010 14.24 BST

England manager Fabio Capello answers questions at the press conference in Rustenburg. Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Action Images

Fabio Capello has told the FA that he would like to stay on as England manager but says he will have to wait two weeks to find out if the ruling body would like him to carry on.

"I spoke this morning with [the Club England chairman] Sir David Richards," Capello said. "He told me that he needs two weeks to decide. I said I can be for next season the manager of England, but they have to decide."

Adrian Bevington, the newly appointed managing director of Club England and sat beside Capello at the press conference, interjected quickly to insist that this refusal to make an immediate decision should not be interpreted as a lack of faith in the manager.

"Sir Dave Richards met with Fabio this morning and we are all very clear that Fabio is under contract with the FA until the 2012 European Championship and nothing has changed in that respect," said Bevington. "But it makes sense to go back to London and take stock of the situation and take a common sense decision rather than a knee-jerk reaction after what is a disappointing result.

"I don't think there is anything sinister in it other than we just want to make sure that we show a common-sense approach rather than making any other snap knee-jerk reactions within 24 hours of a very disappointing result."

Asked how he felt about this, Capello responded: "I think it's an intelligent answer. I refused important opportunities to become manager of important clubs because I like being England manager."

Capello added that he thought England's players had been hampered by tiredness in South Africa, suggesting – as the former manager Sven-Goran Eriksson had after Germany 2006 – that a winter break for the Premier League could have improved the situation.

"I think not [only] Wayne Rooney but all our players were really tired at this competition," he said. "All the coaches told me [the] physical situation of players was not like the players we know. Rooney played well some games, but all the players were not the players we know.

"We are really tired. Every time we have to play a competition in June," he added, before signalling his agreement when asked if he thought a winter break could help. "But its not my job to decide about the calendar."

Capello also cited the referee Jorge Larrionda's failure to award a goal when Frank Lampard's shot crossed the line against Germany at 2–1 down as the major reason for England's failure to do better. "The Lampard goal was OK," he said. "The motivation at 2‑2 would be completely different. We played well until they scored the third goal but after 3-1 Germany played better."

Looking ahead, Capello said he has already spoken with Richards about bringing new players into the squad, if he does stay on as manager. "I spoke with Sir David about younger players that we can play for the next qualification and I know what I have to do," he added.