Capello resignation claim denied

REAL MADRID were last night forced to deny media reports that coach Fabio Capello handed in his resignation 24 hours before tonight’s Champions League clash against Bayern Munich.

“The board is unaware of any resignation by Fabio Capello and we were very surprised by the reports that appeared in the media,” club spokesman Miguel Angel Arroyo told a news conference at the Bernabeu.

“It hardly contributes to the right atmosphere on the eve of such an important match as tomorrow’s game.

“Reports like this only serve to destabilise the club and we’d like to express our surprise and dismay about this type of report.

“In this world you can assure very few things, but I can guarantee that the board has not received any resignation from Fabio Capello either verbally or in written form.”

The Cope radio station had reported that Capello had thrown in the towel as Real coach but would sit on the bench for the match against Bayern at the Bernabeu before leaving the club.

Capello’s woes increased last night with Mahamadou Diarra and Sergio Ramos both ruled out of tonight’s round of 16 first leg.

Diarra sprained his right ankle joint during Real Madrid’s 2-1 win over Real Sociedad on February 10 and has not recovered while Ramos has a bruised right foot, sustained during their 0-0 draw against Real Betis on Saturday.

With the Malian international’s erratic form over recent months, the absence of Ramos is likely to be more critical in the Spanish giant’s encounter with the four-time European champions.

The Spanish international defender is likely to be replaced at right back by Michel Salgado but Real coach Fabio Capello was keeping his cards close to his chest yesterday about who will start against their familiar foes.

There was better news for Real fans about defenders Roberto Carlos and Fabio Cannavaro who have both been included in Capello’s 20-man squad.

“They both trained well, neither has any pain, they are in the squad,” confirmed Capello. Cannavaro suffered back spasms in the wake of the game against Betis while Roberto Carlos has been out for five weeks with a hamstring strain.

The indications are that Capello will start with Cannavaro, the 2006 World Player of the Year, in the middle of the back four but left back Roberto Carlos may be on the bench after the impressive form of his replacement Miguel Torres.

Torres is set for just his second Champions League game.

“I still don’t know if I’m going to play but I never imagined I would be playing either,” said Torres. “If I do, then I’m going to take advantage of the opportunities that come my way and I’m going to give everything. As a Madrid man, born and bred, I live for these type of big games,” he added.