Fabio Capello, the renowned Italian football manager, recently shared his insights on the current state of Inter Milan and Juventus with La Gazetta dello Sport, emphasizing that both teams need to make significant improvements despite their recent results.
For Inter Milan, Capello pointed out the need to address their frequent defensive lapses. “Inzaghi needs to wake up the team,” he stated, highlighting that the once rock-solid Inter defense has become more vulnerable. Capello observed, “The feeling is that the players are watching the ball more than the man compared to their good habits of the past.” He suggested that the absence of a leader like Acerbi might be a contributing factor.
Capello stressed the importance of Hakan Calhanoglu to Inter’s midfield, stating, “A clone of Calhanoglu doesn’t exist, and his absence is heavy. The Turk is not only one of the best playmakers in Europe but also a valuable ball recoverer. There’s an Inter with Calha and one without.”
Turning his attention to Juventus, Capello praised their resilience in the recent Derby d’Italia but emphasized the need for continued progress. “Thiago Motta must be given time to complete the reconstruction, let’s not forget that there were many changes in the summer,” he said. Capello was particularly impressed with Juventus’ spirit, drawing parallels to his own experience: “I experienced a similar situation in my Roma days, and in that case, when I returned to the dressing room, I told the players: ‘Today I understood that we will fight for the Scudetto until the end.'”
Capello advised Juventus to build on their more dynamic play against Inter: “Less boring ball possession and more breaks thanks to the one-on-one ability of Francisco Conceiçao and Kenan Yildiz.” He praised Motta’s substitutions and tactical reading of the game but noted the significant impact of Gleison Bremer’s absence in defense.
In conclusion, Capello emphasized that both teams face crucial challenges in their upcoming matches. For Inter, the game against Empoli is “not a walk in the park,” while Juventus must approach their match against Parma with humility. “More than technique, the mental aspect will count tonight: to make the leap in quality, the Bianconeri must face these matches with humility. And win them,” Capello asserted.
