Fabio Capello Quotations

We lacked focus when giving away the second goal and we could have really avoided conceding the third.

We did everything possible and played a good match, but the 2-0 from the first leg was too difficult to recover. We could not have done any better at this stage of the season.

We deserved the win even if it did come from a mistake by their keeper. He had an incredible night, we created plenty of chances but he just pulled off one great save after another.

We hope we can cause Arsenal some damage. A 2-0 (deficit) is extremely difficult to recover but much will depend on whether we can score one goal in the first half.

No doubt it's an unlucky, difficult period for us,

On one occasion in the second half when (Alessandro) Del Piero was completely free, he ignored the better option and preferred to shoot. He made several mistakes and we will discuss it.

If we had stayed 3-0 down the tie would have been all but over. Instead we're at 3-2 and there's still something to play for, even if the return match in Rome (on Feb. 1) will be a difficult one.

Bayern Munich are, in my mind, the favorites to win the Champions League. It's quite possible that we'll meet Bayern in the final. I'd even say that Bayern are our greatest challenge to winning the Champions League.

If Arsenal continue in this form, it'll be difficult for anybody to beat them.

If Arsenal can stay in this kind of physical shape, they will definitely be very hard to beat.

He is a very good personality so he will play a wonderful game.

Today I saw a determined team who has played 20-25 minutes with a high tempo and determination. We could have scored more goals and we conceded a goal that could have been easily prevented.

Having played less, he's fresher and can be at his best throughout the second half of the season. He will enter the World Cup in fantastic form.

His response to being left out of the team over the last few weeks has been brilliant. He has not been involved but he never sulked and behaved like a real professional both on and off the pitch.

He's doing really well. He has reached the record of strikes and this have given him more confidence. I'm sure that from now on he'll score even more easily.

We looked in good shape and were focussed. It was just a shame that, down to 10 men, we spent a lot of energy while Arsenal were able to have a rest.

I would not say we lost two points but that we gained one. Both sides tried to win. The result was fair.

I think it was a fully deserved victory. However we created a lot of chances but we didn't take them and that meant we had to wait until the 82nd minute to seal the result after our keeper made two important saves,

I think that with the chances we had we should have won it. We didn't get a look-in for the first 25 minutes and the first goal was a gift but in the second half we must have had five or six good scoring chances.

It is never an easy business defeating Real Madrid and so that was a special feeling,

Lately we tend to make our life difficult, always starting from one goal down. Luckily, we took control of the match quickly and produced at least five scoring chances.

Parma were too aggressive in the first half, ... I knew that they would not be able to keep that pace all match long. We performed really well after the break. I picked up the right players and I am glad about the result. We were slow in the first half but we hugely improved our passing game in the second.

Pavel is a player that changes the rhythm of games. He will be decisive tomorrow when we will have no choice but to attack from the start.

Our minds are now focused on the league game against Lecce (on Sunday).

Liverpool won the European Cup and they should have the right to defend their trophy. The champions should be involved but I think they should have to qualify like Brazil have to qualify for next year's World Cup.

We have an extremely competitive roster in terms of quality and quantity. And compared to last year we know each other better and have all been together from the first day of training camp.

We could have used a performance like that on our side.

We could have closed out the match in the first half. At the end, when the game did open up, we showed how we are capable of playing.

We could have closed out the match a lot sooner,

We had other options but Vieira was the one I wanted,

We are doing well and the team is in good form. Today's win has nothing to do with the loss to Roma in the Cup.

We didn't choose to be cautious, but Milan needed the win and we didn't, so both teams took a different approach. We enjoyed some good moments, but Milan were more adventurous.

We played a good match, only the result was negative. We did not deserve defeat.

We produce scoring chances but are unable to kick the ball in. I'm tranquil however, the team is physically strong. We are prepared to do well in Madrid.

We're two points from the top, that's what we wanted.

We weren't as fresh and aggressive as we usually are and our reaction came too late. Bayern deserved to win.

When my players step on the pitch, they try not to underestimate their rivals,

Both players are strong, tall, fast and good in the air and they can both do well even against teams that don't leave much space.

You can lose against a great squad like Bayern,

We gained one point over Inter, thus we are happy. We were lucky today, and overjoyed as we travel to Milan with a nine-point lead.

We simply try to impose our own play from start to finish and this is the best way to avoid any surprises from the teams considered minnows.

We showed we are ready to advance, despite the red card.

You have to pull the right strings to motivate players. There are no untouchables. I tell the guys, 'Accept my decisions and everyone will get their chance.

Bremen is a team that plays with a very high skill level.

The second goal was a lucky ricochet and unfortunately the winner was practically the last kick of the game and certainly an avoidable incident.

Sometimes, miracles can happen. We are confident about tomorrow because we believe we can do something exceptional.

Roma played very dangerous counterattacks. It's in good form right now. I liked the fighting spirit of my players in the closing minutes. The result means that we still can hope to qualify (for the semifinals).

Our defense is quick enough but we need to watch out for their counter-attacks.

The most important thing is we played a great game and showed a lot of character, ... We dominated in midfield. (Patrick) Vieira was excellent. We really allowed Inter very little.

Someone said that he hadn't scored in the last four matches, he answered that on the field today.

Del Piero manages to have an immediate impact in the game when he comes on as a substitute. He doesn't need time to become an important factor in the game. There are not many players around who can do that so effectively.

Alex won us the game today. I already said (before the game) that I saw he was doing well. This is a long season and there will be space for everyone. Whoever is out must wait their turn, like Del Piero.

Alex was the main reason why we won the game, he had looked so good in training I knew I had to play him and his performance more than justified my decision,

You start the season with the goals of winning both the league and the Champions League. Once again, we've seen how difficult that it.

They played with just one striker and were very strong in midfield but we only gave them two chances -- both a result of carelessness on our part. I think we created a bit more.

The most beautiful record was winning the league unbeaten with Milan,

It was a tense game and it was difficult for both teams,

It's an open contest between us, Milan and Inter,

It's very difficult to maintain this rhythm but we have the minds and the legs to do it. Now, thank goodness, we have a week off.

It's a long season and Milan and Inter can give us bother right up until the end,

I want to decide with calm . . . I would like to coach a club for three more seasons and then have a try with a foreign national squad, maybe England, which always fascinated me.

It will be important to rotate players and start those in best form. We are going to face a series of tough matches. But it will be the same for our title rivals.

It won't really be a friendly, considering the history and the rivalry. I hope my players return healthy.

They did a very beautiful job. We hope we can play here too.

They were a difficult side to play against because they closed down the space and were then quick on the break. We had a good game, but unfortunately we just weren't able to score.

A person's credibility does not depend on who sponsors him,

At this time of the season one must struggle against every opponent. But this is also the case for Inter and Milan.

I'm delighted he has taken his total to 100. He has always been a great finisher,

I'm disappointed. It is a problem. I'm happy with the physical side of the game and the desire that we showed. But I'm sorry about having had such a tough challenge ahead of the Arsenal game, especially as they haven't played.

In looking for his first goal of the season, he was too selfish,

I never judge referees in these cases. I will say that the first foul was debatable and from the bench I thought he had nothing to do with the second incident.

I never cry about what I don't have. I'm always positive. I am happy with the team I have and I am confident that we can do well.

I'm not thinking about it. I have a positive approach and I'm convinced we have the desire and determination to do great things.

In the first half we conceded a goal that we shouldn't have done. Maybe the second we should have avoided as well.

Instead of the record I'm already thinking about Saturday,

I have the fortune to have players who accept my decisions because they know they are working for the good of the team.

In the two matches we played, they scored two goals so they are better than us.

In three years time I'll stop (coaching), but I won't go into retirement, that's for sure.

Inter missed an opportunity to claw two points back on us, so I'm very happy with a draw.

I didn't hear them. This team doesn't deserve that. The fans didn't help us. The guys gave their all and you have to realize it when you come up against a stronger opponent.

Every manager dreams of a job like this [the England job] and I will be sure to learn English within one month.

Like [George] Best, there is a special fantasia about him

We deserved to lose and it was a good result for us, considering the way we played in the second half.

There are some nights when everything goes your way and some when it doesn't, and this wasn't our game. I was most disappointed with our lack of aggression as that is normally one of our characteristics.

We are not ourselves anymore, we've lost a little something.

I'm glad for the equaled record. However, the final numbers really count.

For me, I always study the last games that have been played, not what happened in the past.

I'm happy with my language progress - the only difficulty when I tour Premier League matches is that different people talk to me in different accents - and sometimes I can hardly understand a word!

When I was a player, I'd have a pre-match meal of the biggest lump of fillet steak you could find, followed by rice pudding. Other times I'd have a steak and kidney pie. I'd finish the meal at 12.30 and be playing two-and-a-half hours later.

He will be England captain one day. Jack Wilshere is a real leader. I saw how he spoke with the referee and the other players [against Denmark]. It is difficult to find someone so young with such a big personality. I remember two defenders, Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi, and one attacker, Raul, but for personality and confidence on the pitch he is the best young midfielder I have seen for his age.

I have a contract and I refused a lot of opportunities to be the manager of important clubs because I want to stay here. I like this job. I like to be the England manager.

If you're speaking of a fantasy player, then it has to be Leo Messi as he's so unpredictable. He's an absolute genius.

Christiano knows English, Messi knows football

Once he's on the run, Messi is unstoppable.

When he's on fire, he is impossible to stop. He dribbles like a winger, but is still able to score 20 goals a year in the Premiership. (on Thierry Henry)

I never cry about what I don't have. I'm always positive.

Certainly it's nice to have historic moments like this but eventually somebody will break this record. We're aiming for the end result, otherwise the rest is useless.

It's all about the climate. I had a long discussion about it when I went to Scotland to see Andy Roxburgh. I worked with a Scottish youth side and had them do the same drills I would do in Italy. I realised that, between the wind, the rain and the cold, there was no way they could do it. How can you possibly teach anybody anything in those conditions? To me, it's pretty obvious and it explains why Brazilians are more technical than Europeans and, in Italy, the further south you go the more technical they are.

Cristiano is an explosive type of player, with great technique, but he's still not as gifted as Messi in my opinion. Messi is more of a genius than Cristiano. Cristiano is so strong physically, so powerful, but Messi has more creativity.

Sometimes miracles happen. We have to be confident. We're convinced we can do something really exceptional.