MOSCOW: Fabio Capello has insisted he is happy to continue as national coach of Russia through to the country’s hosting of the World Cup finals in 2018.

However, in an echo of the captaincy row which saw him quit the England job in early 2012, he said that he would quit if he sensed any lack of confidence in his work.

The Italian, who has a contract through to 2018, came in for heavy media criticism after Russia’s first-round exit from the finals in Brazil in June.

He said: “If I’m not trusted, I’ll resign. I’m serious about these things.”

Capello took over in July 2012 and led Russia into the 2014 World Cup, qualifying top in Group H ahead of Portugal. That success earned the 68-year-old his new four-year contract world a world record for a national coach of $12m-a-year.

He added: “The fact that I am here should make it clear that I will continue to work with the Russian team. It’s already confirmed. When we went to the World Cup, everyone was happy. Football hinges on moments. The ball — is it in the net or not?

“I work with enthusiasm. If I see support from those around me . . . If that belief stops, don’t worry, I will quit.

“If I am here, then I will carry on working. This is confirmation of that. The RFU believes in me, as does the Ministry for Sport.

“Now our holidays are over. I came to Russia to work and, in a month’s time, we will start our qualification campaign for Euro 2016.”

Russian federation president Nikolai Tolstykh said its executive committee had not discussed the possibility of Capello leaving.

He said: “The issue has not come up. Capello has a valid contract with the RFU and will continue his work as the national team coach. Not a single executive committee member has raised the issue.”

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