Brighton and Hove Albion coach Roberto De Zerbi believes that Luciano Spalletti’s Napoli side can go all the way and win the Champions League. The former Shakhtar Donetsk coach spoke with Il Corriere dello Sport (via Goal Italia) about his first months in the Premier League and his time in Ukraine, as well as the current title race in Serie A:
“Shakhtar? Leaving was a long and sad journey. I am grieved by the drama of the Ukrainians, their immense sufferings. And from a professional point of view, the regret was great: I had chosen to go to Ukraine, a great Shakhtar was being born, it would have been my most beautiful team. Even today, I struggle to accept what happened.
Bologna? I would have walked there because the perspective stimulated me, but at that moment I did not think it was right. It’s not moralism: I did what I thought most appropriate.
Napoli? Spalletti is the best coach in Serie A because he is always consistent and clear with his idea of football. Can Napoli win the Champions League? Yes. For the players he has and the way he plays, yes.
Daniele De Rossi? I think of Zanetti, but he already trains in Serie A, De Rossi has everything to become a great coach. I know him and I have spoken to him many times: he is clear about what he wants to do and, if it is true that everything changes when we move from words to practice, it is equally true that De Rossi has a great charisma. He will go far.
Atalanta? I am from Brescia, I carry within me the boy who went to the curva to cheer for Brescia. In my life I have done everything: fan, ball boy, player and coach. Me at Atalanta? I couldn’t do it.
Premier League? It is a championship different from all the others: the sports culture, shorter and more intense training. The most surprising thing is the difference in pressure compared to Italy. The pre-game does not exist: at any moment you go from arriving at the stadium to the kick-off. In the most prestigious championship in the world, I also enjoy myself when I lose.
Liverpool 3-3 Brighton? I was aware that we could never miss the game with Liverpool. It was a matter of personal justice: in December, with Shakhtar we had finished in first place and, after the Super Cup, we could also have won the title. If you behave well, every now and then luck will give you back what has been taken from you and, from up there, someone has given us a benevolent look. Chills? I had told my collaborators, who have been with me since the days of Foggia: ‘today we don’t lose.’
Juventus? They had many heavy injuries, from Pogba to Chiesa … What would I have done if they had called me? Juve is one of the most important teams, but things must be done together to work in the right way. It is important for me to go to a place and feel gratified by the work I do. “
