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Capello urges Chelsea players to 'forget Moscow'

28/05/2008

England manager Fabio Capello has urged Chelsea's players to move on from their Champions League final heartbreak by focussing on tonight's international friendly against the USA.

A number of players expected to be in the Italian's starting lineup at Wembley - including captain John Terry, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard - have come straight into training with the national team after the European showpiece in Moscow.

That match saw the Blues lose out on a first-ever Champions League trophy in a penalty shootout against Manchester United, with Terry himself missing a crucial spotkick that would have won the title for his side.

But Capello, who has selected the centre-back as his latest skipper as he rotates the armband ahead of choosing a full-time captain later this summer, stated he was looking for the Chelsea players to respond to the disappointment.

"For Chelsea players it is very important to play and forget the last game in Moscow," the manager told the BBC.

"It is a good decision for John Terry [to be captain] after last Wednesday, which was not nice for him.

"He has played very well in training and when I told him he would be captain he was very, very happy.

"As a captain, I think it is important to be a leader, and John Terry is a leader."

Capello also spoke on the likely contribution of Lampard, who will start the match alongside Liverpool captain Steve Gerrard.

"I'm very happy to see [Lampard] in the midfield because I think he's a very important player for us," Capello added.