Former Napoli and Juventus defender Fabio Cannavaro previewed the upcoming match between the two sides, explaining who can edge the match. Speaking with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Cannavaro talked about his time in Naples and Turin, sharing experiences of playing for both sides, and why Juve was ‘ a school’ for him where he learned so much:
Do you remember what you were doing on the afternoon of March 7, 1993?
“Do you?”
You were a young man of 19 years…
“Who was making his Serie A debut, in Turin, in a Juventus-Napoli that ended 4-3. The day that changed my life was that day: I stopped dreaming with my eyes closed, I could finally open them. I was no longer on the street with the ball fantasizing about my future in the blue shirt: it was all happening at that moment.”
You knew you were playing in an unusual way: Ottavio Bianchi took the anxiety out of you.
“Technical meeting, the lineup, and I’m in it. No speeches, no recommendations, no superfluous words.”
Excesses were forbidden, including the anxiety of the first time.
“I had a plendid relationship with him, which goes beyond gratitude. I was starting at that moment, but I liked the atmosphere, the sense of respect, the rules, the discipline.”
With Napoli, 68 matches; with Juve, 128.
“They sold me because they couldn’t do without it. I thought: I’ll stay here for life, I want to become the bandiera, a concept that was feasible at the time. I wanted to stay, obviously, fans came under the house to express their affection for me, and instead Ferlaino was decisive: if you don’t go to Parma, we really risk bankruptcy.”
You have never won against Napoli while playing for Juventus
“Two losses in two matches, in my last season in black and white. Before, there had been few occasions, Napoli had ended up in Serie B, then in C. I never liked playing against them, it was difficult to get there, prepare, then face them.”
Juve for you was…?
“A school, in which I was raised. It allowed me to evolve, a maturation process that I must recognize: and this happened to Fabio Cannavaro the footballer but also the man.”
When you arrive at Juventus, 2004, Conte leaves.
“Capello on the bench, I think – and I hope I don’t remember wrong – that Antonio had problems with a knee. But I shared much more with him in the National team in a very long journey. We know each other very well.”
From Thiago Motta you snatched a La Liga title with the advantage in head-to-head between Real and Barcelona: you ended up with equal points.
“Great player. And that was a beautiful era. Unforgettable years.”
Thiago Motta was one of your opponents in the five matches (and 23′ with Roma) as coach of Udinese.
“And he was lucky (smiles). Our post, at 95′. But we still managed to save ourselves and that’s fine. At Bologna, Thiago has created a masterpiece, conquering the Champions League.”
One defends with four, the other with three: which side are you on?
“I’m with the players you have. It’s the quality of the team, sometimes, that guides you. I’ve played in every way, there are benefits and possibly limits to overcome both with four and with three, but I just need that in defense we don’t become five. Then it’s clear that you need to train and develop your ideas, even adapting. Spalletti has been the demonstration, with the National team in these days, of how much a coach’s intelligence affects.”
Juve have lost Chiesa, Napoli has given up Osimhen: who has lost more?
“Chiesa in black and white has been heavily conditioned by the injury and has never been himself. Osimhen, despite Lukaku being there now, takes away his goals, at least twenty, and impressive athleticism.”
They have both spent a lot: which money do you think has a greater weight?
“Juve has bought Khephren Thuram, who has margins for growth. I like him like crazy. He can become great. They’ve added Koopmeiners, who is a fine player. Napoli has invested differently compared to habits but has bought finished players.”
Another Cannavaro hasn’t been seen in some time, but between the two defenders of the two clubs who attracts you more?
“Buongiorno offers security at first sight: he smells danger, knows how to face it and how to suffocate it. In short, he solves problems and it’s a nice advantage to have him. If I have to choose only one, among many good ones, I bet on him.”
You wouldn’t be afraid of any striker, and you haven’t been, but let’s try to think who of the forwards would have been preferable to avoid.
“Lukaku is not discussed but sometimes gives the sensation of making more mistakes than expected. Vlahovic is a killer, you know he’s there and if you give him the chance he doesn’t forgive you. But both the Juventus player and the Napoli player are guarantees, they play with their back to the goal, they help, they make the team rise and they score.”
Philosophically, the corporate strategies in the transfer market have been reversed.
“Juve have gone for young players, has given itself a perspective. Napoli is in a hurry, has aimed at structured athletes.”
But according to you Inter are so far ahead as to push Inzaghi not to watch the match?
“He will watch it, obviously. They are the favorites, they appear and are much stronger, and not only because they are Italian Champions. But no detail is ignored, also for example to understand who could become the greatest danger.”
When will you come back?
“For now I study, I update myself, I observe and I wait. In Udine, in that month or little more, we achieved something extraordinary and built a magical atmosphere. It was a beautiful experience, it left a lot inside me and I will follow a team that has the quality to avoid fighting for salvation and play for being among the top ten, anyway largely safe”
