Speaking in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, former Italian football manager Fabio Capello shared his thoughts on the current state of Italian football, particularly in light of recent Champions League performances. Capello’s critique focused on the slow pace and ineffective possession style that Italian teams have adopted, which he believes is a poor imitation of Pep Guardiola’s tactics.
“Abroad, teams run, press, and play vertically. Italian teams struggle with such an intense rhythm, as we’ve seen in the recent Champions League matches,” Capello stated.
When reminded that Italian teams were once masters of pressing and vertical play, Capello responded, “We were, indeed. Then…”
Elaborating on what has changed, Capello explained, “We started copying Guardiola, but with a ten-year delay, and these are the results. We’re slower than others, our ball possession is often sterile, the ball moves slowly and poorly, we lack concreteness. It’s a path that hasn’t taken us anywhere in the Euros, and risks causing damage in the Cups as well. Yet it’s clear where football is heading: even Spain has set aside possession at all costs to seek verticality, and that’s how they won the Euros. And Guardiola’s City keeps the ball, yes, but does so in the opponent’s half, not in front of their own area as happens in Serie A.”
Capello emphasized that the issue isn’t just about playing style but also about intensity. He shared an anecdote about Bologna’s coach Italiano, who after facing Aston Villa and Liverpool, remarked, “They run, they’re faster, they have a different pace.”
The former manager also criticized the frequent interruptions in Serie A matches, noting, “I constantly see players staying down for long periods after any kind of contact, and if the referee tries to ‘speed things up,’ everyone protests, including spectators. It doesn’t work the same way outside our borders.”
Capello provided examples of how this affects Italian teams in Champions League, mentioning Theo Hernandez’s lack of acceleration against Bruges and Juventus’s poor performance against Stuttgart.
On Inter Milan’s struggle against Young Boys, Capello noted the difference when key players were introduced: “When Inzaghi brought on the Frenchman [Thuram], Lautaro, Dimarco, Bastoni, Inter did what the big European teams do: quick ball recovery and vertical play with five players. And they won.”
Regarding AC Milan’s recent victory, Capello remained cautious: “They still struggled against Bruges, and conceded the equalizer while having a numerical advantage. The problem here is also organizational; Milan is a team that, at those rhythms, lets anyone through at the back.”
Capello concluded by looking ahead to Milan’s upcoming match against Real Madrid, predicting a tough challenge but suggesting that Madrid’s confidence might potentially work in Milan’s favor.
