Ferdinand admits' WAG 'culture of England become circus

Rio Ferdinand has described the 'WAG' culture that surrounded England in the days before Fabio Capello took over as a "circus" and admitted that it was essential to the squad for recent failures.

In a very frank interview ahead of a World Cup qualifier with Belarus here on Wednesday, the Manchester United defender savagery of the celebrity bubble in 2006 that reached the World Cup finals in Germany, where the wives and girlfriends (WAGS) of the England squad generated as many headlines as the players themselves.

Stressing the fundamental changes that have been created by Capello, England stand-in skipper also hit out at his Italian predecessor, Steve McClaren, and his apparent desire to be better companions "Wazzan" (Wayne Rooney) and "G Stevie "(Steven Gerrard).

"In the past became a bit of a circus, if I am honest, in terms of the whole WAG situation," Ferdinand admitted. It seems that there was a great show all around the England squad. It was like watching theater and soccer is almost became a secondary element for the main event. People are more concerned about what people are wearing and where they went, instead of the England football team. What then incorporated into the equipment itself.''

"This regime, in contrast, the water is very tight. It feels as if we are going in the right direction. I do not want to speak too soon, but you can see that we are at the beginning of something, and hopefully it will not be bigger reward than what we had in the past. All very focused and in tune with what we want to achieve" .

Ferdinand of the Commission amounted to the breaking of a taboo. Until we talked, the players of England has held unanimously that the media circus that surrounds the team of Germany in 2006 and has since played no part in its failure to live up to the expectations vested in what was once called a "golden generation" of English players.

"I did not realize that at the time," admitted Ferdinand. "You were trapped in the bubble - which were in the bubble of ourselves.

"I am speaking with hindsight. But at some place like Baden Baden (England from the base in Germany), walking around the city, there were paparazzi around the world and is among the press as well - and our families were there too. When you step back and look back at you think like a circus. "

With England on track to reach the end of 2010 after losing in the Euro 2008 under McClaren, Ferdinand is convinced that there will be no mass influx of WAGS in South Africa over a period of two years.

"I'm not going to say to the other players what they should or should not do. But I think that as a unit, we were a little too open in 2006, leaving in the outskirts of Baden Baden, and probably had too much contact with the families.

"Some players may think they prefer to have such contact but I think we're in a tournament - and you do not get many tournaments in his career. To have the best chance, you have to be focused."

With this in mind Ferdinand was delighted when iron-fisted Capello arrived as manager of England and produced a list of rules, as long as Peter Crouch on the right leg. "When the new manager came I just think that was much:" I am the boss and this is what is happening. "The guys appreciate that have been heated and that, because that is what is happening in their clubs.

"This new scheme is a very, very professional regime. It is very focused on results. You see how the training ground, in our meetings, that there is a winning mentality there. He has a new way of doing things. He is not shy of telling you what you're doing wrong. That's a big step in the right direction for this team, and that's maybe what we need in the past . This plan is in a mood to which I have been in a while. We have a business very similar to the mood. "

Central to that, according to Fernando, is the distance between the players and Capello. "Do we really know of any administrators?" He asked. "I do not know the real Fergie (Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson). When it comes to football, probably a totally different person when at home with his wife and grandchildren," said Fernando.

"That does not matter. They're not here to be friends, talk about old times or be great friends. They are here to win football matches."