Terry happy with Capello

England international John Terry insists his respect for head coach Fabio Capello never wavered despite being stripped of his country’s captaincy.

The armband was taken from Terry in February last year following allegations he had an affair with the former girlfriend of ex-team-mate Wayne Bridge.

With the likes of Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard on the sidelines ahead of England’s crunch Euro 2012 qualifier with Wales on Saturday Terry’s prestige has now been restored.

Terry insists his relationship with the Italian tactician is as strong as ever and that he has nothing but respect for the former Real Madrid, Juventus and Roma boss.

Respect

“Anyone who ever asks me about Fabio, I can only say good words about him and that’s the truth, regardless of what people might hear,” he told The Sun.

“People look at what’s happened between us and think there must be trouble but there isn’t.

“There’s no problem, really. I’ve got nothing but respect for him. Hopefully, that’s the same the other way.

“Fabio has been great. I’ve got to give him loads of credit for that.

“When he came in, tactically he was spot on in and around the place. I was really impressed with him, I genuinely was.

“Whatever’s gone on, losing the captaincy and the like, I still think he’s a great manager and right up there with the best of them, especially on the training field.”

Terry was upset when the captain’s armband was being passed around willy-nilly in a friendly against Egypt a year ago, although he did not mind being snubbed against Denmark as he had been informed of Capello’s decision beforehand.

Committed

Despite the off field issues that have highlighted Terry’s international profile for the wrong reasons the Chelsea skipper insists he remains committed to his country and wants to continue playing for as long as possible.

“I’d mentioned how the armband was passed around and I felt it was unfair but against Denmark I felt fine because Fabio told me before the game I wasn’t going to get it whatever happened. I appreciated that so much that he told me beforehand,” he continued.

“I’d spoken about the game before and how me not knowing was why I felt disappointed. I don’t know whether he’d read that or what but he went through the line of captains like he does with penalty takers and said ‘Lamps, Gareth, Ashley’ and I wasn’t in it.

“He spoke to me after the meeting and said ‘You won’t be getting it today’. It wasn’t an issue and I really respected him for that.

“The most frustrating thing was to read that when Gareth gave the armband to Ash, I looked so disappointed and had tried to get it. I moved on very quickly from the decision about losing the captaincy.

“Even when the manager made the decision in that meeting at Wembley I got up, shook his hand and assistant Franco Baldini’s hand, and said I’d always give 100 per cent whatever happens on the training field and off the pitch.

“He said he really appreciated that and hoped that would be the case. Since then he’s said to me I’ve done that and he’s been proud of me for that.

“Nothing changed for me. I love playing for England and I want to keep going for as long as possible and be involved as much as possible.”