The 66-year-old suggested that Rooney also has some trouble speaking English, while the forward himself indicated he has never been happier to be part of the national team set-up
Fabio Capello has argued that England players understood him when he was the national team coach, amid claims the squad harmony is better under English management.The Three Lions finished top of Group D at Euro 2012 after winning two and drawing one of their opening three games of the tournament, as they set up a date with the former manager's native Italy in the quarter-final.
Reports have suggested that the 66-year-old, a friend of Azzurri coach Cesare Prandelli, could offer important information on England's strengths and weaknesses to their knockout round opponents.
The ex-Real Madrid boss defended his reign in charge of the Three Lions, where he was criticised for failing to grasp the language, suggesting that players such as Wayne Rooney had trouble understanding English as well.
“Look, when I spoke they did understand me," Capello told reporters.
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“But every now and then, when I tried to explain tactics, things didn’t work out.
"You know what? Maybe it’s because Rooney doesn’t speak English. He doesn’t understand English.”
The Manchester United forward, however, has praised new manager Roy Hodgson for creating a relaxed atmosphere in the city-centre camp, which has been received more positively than the isolated location in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
The 26-year-old said: “Roy has given us a lot of rest and down time. We understand what he wants from us, what we have to do and he gives us the chance to relax and put football aside.”
The former Everton man later tweeted a picture oh himself, align with Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole, "playing pool and chilling out" in the team hotel in Krakow.
The striker added that all the players have put domestic rivalries behind them to unite as a squad, while indicating after scoring on his return against Ukraine, he had never been happier to be part of the England set-up.
"You’ve got City players playing snooker with United stars, Chelsea playing against Liverpool players," Rooney wrote on the social networking site.
"Everyone is getting on well, there is a good chemistry.
“Delighted to get a goal, can’t ever remember feeling happier to score for England. So proud to be part of this team.”
