Fabio Capello, the renowned Italian football manager, has shared his insights on the growing competitiveness of Serie A in European football. With three matchdays remaining, two Italian teams (Inter and Atalanta) out of five are among the top eight in the Champions League rankings, while two others (Milan and Juventus) are in contention for the playoffs.
When asked by Gazzetta dello Sport about Serie A becoming more competitive, Capello responded, “The credit goes to the clubs and coaches, starting with Gasperini. Gian Piero has always coached differently, so much so that he’s been talked about in Europe for years for his mix of intensity and aggressiveness. But Inzaghi has matured a lot, and Marotta has provided him with a quality squad. Behind Inter and Atalanta are the others: Milan made a splash in Madrid, while Juve is moving forward but not scoring. It’s a shame for Bologna.”
Regarding Gasperini’s main quality, Capello stated, “His team plays with Champions League and English football intensity. If they were called Atalanta United or Atalanta City, no one would bat an eye given their style of play. Atalanta’s physicality and approach to challenges are influencing other teams in terms of competitiveness: I’m thinking especially of Lazio, who are doing well both in the league and in the Europa League. In general, I see more vertical play and personality away from home. Inter and Atalanta, in particular, always have this approach. Milan won at the Bernabeu, while Juventus left me a bit perplexed against Aston Villa, although the obstacle was not insignificant given the many absences.”
When asked about what Serie A needs to better prepare teams for European football, Capello replied, “Refereeing and commentary need to improve, I’m referring to those that don’t protect the competitiveness and movement of players during challenges. I still see too many interruptions and soft penalties. And the theatrics on the ground, with consequent time-wasting, are not only ugly but detrimental: they break the rhythm.”
Commenting on Inter’s strong performance in the Champions League, Capello noted, “Inzaghi’s team sometimes relaxes in the league, but in the Champions League, they take the field attentive and determined, in fact, they haven’t conceded a goal yet. Inter has quality and confidence: the round of 16 is within reach, but they can go all the way.”
Regarding Atalanta’s prospects, Capello said, “I’m curious about the match with Real Madrid, who need points. But Gasp’s team has strength and technique. The many goals are a consequence of high quality: from De Ketelaere to Lookman… And Retegui is unforgiving in the box. Gasp can reach the round of 16 directly.”
On Roma’s chances, Capello commented, “The 9 points and especially the schedule (Red Star, Girona, and Dinamo Zagreb) invite optimism: to qualify among the top eight in the Champions League, attention must always be total and not fluctuating.”
Finally, addressing Juventus’s challenging group, Capello stated, “They don’t have a nice schedule, but I see them making the playoffs. In the Champions League, however, they’ll need to do more in the goal-scoring area. Conceição and Yildiz are good at dribbling, but I would try to put a few more balls in the box to increase the danger.”
