Thaindian News

London, Sep 25(ANI): England under-21 manager Stuart Pearce, has revealed that England manager Fabio Capello’s strict ‘two strikes and you’re out’ philosophy is apt to stop superstar youngsters from becoming a pain and to treat everyone as equals in the camp.

Pearce, who is also part of Capello’s senior backroom staff, emphasized that the millionaire stars would no more be favoured, and only performance will matter under Capello’s leadership.

“I don’t subscribe to this, ‘How do you treat millionaire footballers?’ That’s bull. You treat people, as you want to be treated. I’m fortunate enough that I’m working with a great schoolmaster in Fabio Capello, who treats the latest one in the squad, to John Terry to David Beckham, all the same,” The Daily Express quoted Pearce, as saying.

“If you step out of line you’ll be told. If you step out of line twice he won’t tell you again - you go. It’s a level playing field. And footballers respond to that more than anything. They like things to be fair and even in that dressing room, he has created that environment,” he added.

Pearce further said that he significantly uses Capello’s philosophy for the under-21 team as well, and there have been many occasions when he acted tough to make youngsters perform to their level best.

“I’ve had to call one or two aside in our last Under-21 get-together and say, ‘Listen, I need to see your talent every day on this training pitch. Don’t just turn up, hide it and keep it to yourself’,” Pearce said.

“If they don’t take that on board someone else will come in and take their place because this is representing their country, it’s not a normal football team. I’m fortunate in that I believe in the product I’m trying to create, to sell, to these young players,” he added.

Pearce further said that to see some of the players whom he had trained eventually go through to the seniors like James Milner, gives him satisfaction as a manager. (ANI)