Fabio Capello has forgiven England winger Theo Walcott for criticisms made in a recent book but has taken the opportunity to remind the 22-year-old about the need for mutual respect in the England squad.

In his book, Walcott described Capello's England camp in the run-up to the last year's World Cup finals as 'stiff and starchy' and said that his confidence was shaken when the manager screamed 'I will kill you' after he made a tactical mistake on the training ground.

Meeting of minds: Walcott and Capello have settled their differences

Capello has spoken with Walcott since the book was published two weeks ago and made light of the criticisms.

But he has also taken the opportunity to impress on Walcott the need for players to respect the manager within the England set-up.

The Italian said: 'I was speaking to him at Arsenal. I said, "I prefer you as player than a writer". He smiled and then scored a goal!'
Capello says that Walcott knew his threat to 'kill' him was lighthearted.

'It was a joke,' Capello insisted. 'He understood the joke.

'In my life. I respect all people. You respect me, I respect you. There are different rules - you are the player, I am the manager. It's normal.

'When I speak with the players at the start of the season I always said this, "My role is to be manager and your role is to be player. I respect you and you need to respect me". This is important. I told him this.'

Capello will also not be rushed into giving Walcott's Arsenal teammate Emmanuel Frimpong, 19, a senior England call-up even though the Accra-born midfielder is being pursued by the Ghana national team.

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