Fabio Capello asked Wayne Rooney a simple question after a couple
of months of his reign as England manager, and the answer has taken
the team's World Cup talisman into an elite group of superstars.
No-one doubted Rooney's potential from the moment he exploded
onto the scene as a 16-year-old with Everton by smashing that
sensational winner against Arsenal at Goodison Park.
Yet alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United, his
progress appeared painfully slow.
When Ronaldo scored 42 goals in United's momentous 2008
campaign, when they won the Champions League, Rooney managed a mere
18. Last term the figures were 26 and 20. Capello was puzzled.
"After a few games I asked him why he didn't score more
goals," recalled the Italian, himself a former striker.
"He was playing too far from goal. It needed to change.
"Now he is playing closer to goal - and scoring. His goal in
the Carling Cup against City was in an area where I want him to be.
That is where he can be a dangerous player."
At the same time as Capello was looking at altering Rooney's
role, Sir Alex Ferguson was making exactly the same point.
Yet, with the presence of Ronaldo forcing Rooney to play out
wide, especially in the latter part of last season when the now
departed former world player of the year had virtually abandoned
his defensive duties, it is perhaps no surprise the first signs of
improvement came with England.
Now the same is happening at United. Nine goals in a
triumphant World Cup qualifying campaign have been followed by 21
so far this term at club level, with Ferguson setting Rooney a
rather conservative target of 30, seven more than his previous
best.
"Rooney has improved a lot during the last two years and this
season he has been fantastic," enthused Capello.
"He has been United's leader on the pitch this season.
"It is not easy to improve but he has taken his game to
another level. For me, he has improved in every area.
"He is showing a new maturity and is scoring goals, which is
good for him, Manchester United and England."
Rooney was also Capello's captain in Qatar last November,
even if a defeat against Brazil was not the ideal way to mark that
particular career milestone.
Given the allegations concerning regular England captain John
Terry's private life, Rooney might yet end up with the job
full-time heading towards South Africa.
For the moment, both Capello and the Football Association are
standing well back and not rushing to judge Terry.
But should it become obvious a breakdown has occurred that
there is no chance of fixing, Capello may have little alternative
other than to strip Terry of the captaincy, a move that could also
threaten the 29-year-old's World Cup place.
Knowing the damage that would cause to England's hopes, it is
a route Capello will go down only if there was no other way out,
although with England's next friendly against African Nations Cup
finalists Egypt less than five weeks away, the Italian will already
be concerned about the impact it will have on preparations that
only last two days anyway.
Capello had been discussing Terry, along with Rooney and
Frank Lampard, 24 hours before allegations about
the Chelsea captain's private life had appeared in
newspapers.
The context was wholly innocent; whether he was worried about
the notoriously hard-working trio suffering from burnout when
England launch their bid for glory against the United States in
Rustenburg on June 12.
"I am confident Alex Ferguson and Carlo Ancelotti will take
care of their players," said Capello.
"They are experienced managers and they know what to do. I
don't have to tell them because they will also want their top
players in good condition for the big games at the end of the
season.
"But I am not really worried about them burning out because
they are so strong. They could play every game because they have
that strength and energy.
"These players want to play. I understand that. But the
players have to understand the manager is the one who must decide.
"At Milan, I had Franco Baresi, who always wanted to play.
But sometimes I had to say no.
"Sometimes you have to stay home and rest."
