The former Napoli and Inter coach Rafa Benitez has commented on the Scudetto race, offering insights into the challenges and advantages faced by the top contenders. Benitez, known for his strategic approach to football, has weighed in on the current Serie A season, particularly focusing on Napoli and Inter Milan’s title chase.
Benitez expressed his delight at seeing both Napoli and Inter competing for the Scudetto, teams he has intimate knowledge of from his managerial stints. “I’m happy to find them there, fighting for this Scudetto. We can say it’s become a two-horse race, even if Atalanta still has a chance to get back in: seven points seem like a lot, but it’s not an insurmountable gap. However, the two at the top have something extra,” Benitez remarked.
The Spaniard was particularly impressed with Napoli’s recent form, highlighting their seven consecutive victories. “These successes alone give you an idea of the strength of Conte’s team and its coach. They’ve entered a series of very difficult matches – Atalanta first, then Juventus – and came out not only with two victories but with two incredible comebacks. This demonstrates the stature of the players, the personality given to them by their coach, and the work hidden behind this exploit,” he explained.
Addressing the common argument that Napoli benefits from not playing in European competitions, Benitez offered a broader perspective. “It’s true that playing every three days is very tiring, but I would add that matches – the most beautiful thing in football – become a training aspect that coaches know how to exploit. I believe that a coach like Conte, with his history, would very much like to have the Champions League too. It’s not his fault if he doesn’t have it, we know how it went last season, and so he tries to make the most of the calendar that the season offers him.”
Benitez emphasized the motivational aspect of playing in multiple competitions. “I remain convinced that if he were to take the field on Wednesdays too, he wouldn’t lose motivation, on the contrary, he would find it, and rather than thinking about the risk of fatigue, he would enjoy the flavor of an international competition. No one denies the expenditure of energy, few think about the motivations and stimuli that certain challenges feed.”
Looking ahead, Benitez anticipates an exciting conclusion to the season. “It’s better than the last two, in which first Napoli and then Inter ran away with it and removed any doubt by February or March. And this competition elevates the spectacle of Serie A, makes it more exciting, keeps it brilliant for as long as possible,” he stated.
The former manager also highlighted key upcoming fixtures that could shape the title race, including Napoli’s trips to Rome and Inter’s derby match. He suspects that even the direct clash between Napoli and Inter in early March might not be decisive, given the length of the season and the potential for changing conditions.
Benitez concluded by drawing attention to the striking similarities between the two title contenders: “There’s an analogy that deserves to be highlighted: the personality of Napoli and Inter, one at 53 points and the other at 50 with a game in hand. They could find themselves arm in arm. And then both of them devour their matches.”
