The Real Madrid coach was pleased that the player he has coached at Juventus and now Real Madrid was honoured in Switzerland on Monday evening with the game's highest individual accolade.

After winning the Ballon D'Or earlier this month, Cannavaro was given the FIFA award and Capello was confident that it was the correct decision.

"It is deserved," the Madrid boss said. "The World Cup is the most important competition and the best player there is always chosen. Cannavaro and Zidane were the two best.

"This is recognition of his performance in a very difficult tournament. To win the World Cup is never easy."

Capello then turned his attention to the race for the title and admitted that he expects this to be one of the closest contests for some time, but would not be drawn on whether Barça's defeat Japan would effect them.

The Blaugrana were confident of winning the FIFA Club World Cup, but were defeated by Brazilian outfit Internacional.

"I do not know how they will react," Capello explained. "I do not know what happens inside their squad and I do not want to speculate.

"What I do know is that Sevilla are continuing to win and Valencia and Zaragoza are coming back. It will be a difficult league to win."

After leaving Mahamadou Diarra on the bench for the first time this season for the victory over Espanyol at the weekend, Capello reacted to news that the Malian international had been unhappy.

Reports in Spain suggested that Diarra spoke to Antonio Cassano and Ronaldo and the trio complained that the same players were always substitutes, but Capello is not bothered.

"I know that they have talked, but Diarra has played 16 consecutive games and anyone should stay silent then it is him," the Italian said.

"I believe in freedom of speech, but I choose my teams to win games, not to make players happy.

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