London, Mar. 26 : England football coach Fabio Capello has offered a muddled apology to Rio Ferdinand after handing over the national skipper’s band to Chelsea star John Terry.

Terry will lead England out against Wales on Saturday afternoon for the first time since the World Cup qualifier against Belarus in October 2009 as England seek to reinvigorate their Euro 2012 qualification campaign.

Ferdinand, still absent with a calf complaint, has yet to speak in person to Capello since being stripped of the armband despite having twice been at games at Old Trafford attended by the Italian since the decision first emerged, The Guardian reports.

Asked whether the Manchester United defender deserved an explanation delivered in person, Capello said: "Yes, that''s the reason I tried to meet him. I tried. But it didn''t happen. I waited for him in the directors'' box just before the game started, but it didn''t happen. Rio didn''t come. Ask him [why not]."

The England coach insisted it would have been "impossible" to meet anywhere other than in the directors'' box and lounge and that he preferred not to speak with Ferdinand on the telephone to address the issue.

"It will happen when I meet [Rio] in the future. I spoke with some people in the squad before I decided John Terry was the captain and all the players are happy. John Terry has always been a really important leader on the pitch and in the dressing room,” Capello said. (ANI)