Brighton coach Roberto De Zerbi believes it’s a ‘great moment for Italian football’ as five teams have qualified for the semi-finals of three European Cups. Inter, Milan, Juventus, Roma and Fiorentina have all made it through to the closing stages of the Champions, Europa and Conference Leagues, with the Milan sides set to face off in a Euro-derby. Speaking with La Gazzetta dello Sport (as quoted by Internews), De Zerbi expressed his happiness at seeing so many Serie A sides progressing, why he believes Milan’s experience was enough to get them past a tough Napoli side and why it’s a moment of ‘prestige’ for Italian football:
“A Milan-Inter Champions League derby has always been a particularly important challenge for Italian football, a classic that is worth a lot. So it has its weight. But in this case it is important not only that Milan and Inter are in the semifinals of the most prestigious continental trophy, but also that Roma, Juventus, Fiorentina play the semifinals in their cups, the Europa League and the Conference League, which last season was won by Roma.
“I think it’s a great moment for Italian soccer, five teams that can aspire to three European cups is really something that gives prestige to our whole movement.
“On this day of great euphoria, I say that I feel sorry for Napoli, because Spalletti’s team plays fantastic football, but it should be recognized that Milan knows the Champions League and the cups in general better than Napoli and deserved to win the double header.”
