Fabio brands Roo a loon!

London, Mar.26 (ANI): England football team coach Fabio Capello has jokingly branded Wayne Rooney a 'crazy man' after the striker's red card in Manchester United's 2-0 defeat at Fulham.

Rooney was dismissed in the dying minutes of the game last Saturday and punched a corner flag in frustration as he headed towards the tunnel.

But, far from being angry at Rooney's behaviour, England boss Capello found it highly amusing, reports The Sun.

Laughing Capello approached Roon in training and said: "You are a crazy man. What are you doing punching a corner flag?"

And, as he prepared for Saturday's friendly against Slovakia and the World Cup qualifier against Ukraine next Wednesday, he also offered words of comfort to troubled Ashley Cole.

Capello put an arm round Cole to give him encouragement after the Chelsea defender's turbulent year on and off the field. He wants to ensure the left-back's mind is right.

An England insider said: "Fabio is renowned as a disciplinarian but he helps his players too and he will have a joke with them if he thinks the time is right." (ANI)