Capello believes the Barcelona system requires specific types of players, and that the Catalans are the only team in the world with the personnel for it.

“Tactically the new benchmark is Barcelona, but if you try to copy the style it is a big mistake because the style you can only play with the players of Barcelona,” Capello told the League Managers’ Association meeting in England.

“But there are some aspects you can copy, the defensive style. When you lose the ball you go forward together to win back the ball quickly, never go back, never return to midfield.

“They lose the ball, they go forward. For me this is something new. But you need players with the talent of Iniesta or Messi, because it is otherwise impossible to adapt this style of football.”