STEVEN GERRARD has warned Fabio Capello will get ruthless towards any England player who does not adapt to his way of thinking – and send them into international exile.
The Liverpool captain believes the head coach will stand for no nonsense if the players do not live up to his expectations ahead of tomorrow's friendly international with Trinidad and Tobago.
And Gerrard admits he is willing to play anywhere to se
cure a place in Capello's starting line-up after being used primarily in a left-sided midfield role against the United States at Wembley on Wednesday.
Gerrard said: "Every single player has got things to prove personally and also as a team. We have under-achieved. All the staff are scrutinising us and looking at our strengths and weaknesses.
"Every time we train and every time there is an opportunity to meet up and play these games, you've got come to try and impress to stay involved. I am sure this manager will be ruthless if you don't meet the standards he wants. It is as simple as that.
"Training has been intense and, if you don't play the way Mr Capello wants you to play, or buy into his system, then I think it's 'goodbye' for you. The lads are learning how the manager wants us to play and how he wants the team set-up and he is also telling people individually what he expects from them."
Gerrard would prefer to play in a central role but accepts players have to be ready to adapt to whatever is required from them after playing in three different positions in Capello's three games. "That is not a concern. It is something I am quite used to at club level," he said.
The full article contains 300 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
