Former coach Fabio Capello has weighed in on the Serie A title race, highlighting Napoli’s strong position and the crucial match between Inter and Juventus at San Siro. Capello, writing for La Gazzetta dello Sport, believes Napoli have sent a clear message to their rivals with their recent performances.
“Napoli has shown they are here for the Scudetto. And you?” Capello said, referring to the team’s 1-0 victory over Lecce. He praised Napoli’s humility, stating, “I’m convinced this is a precious quality because it’s the distinctive trait of teams that go all the way.”
Capello emphasized Napoli’s strengths, including their coach Antonio Conte, a well-equipped squad, passionate fan base, and the advantage of not playing in European competitions. He also highlighted Romelu Lukaku’s importance, saying, “Lukaku’s goals will be needed because championships are also won with strikers, but the Belgian’s abilities and experience are undisputed.”
The former coach praised Conte’s impact, using Giovanni Di Lorenzo as an example: “Look at Di Lorenzo, in summer he was a player in technical crisis with his bags packed, today he scores and decides matches. Conte’s treatment has brought him back to the glory days of Spalletti’s Napoli.”
Turning to the upcoming Milan-Inter clash, Capello noted the different preparations of the two teams. He pointed out Milan’s advantage of having more rest due to a postponed match, despite missing key players through suspension.
Regarding the Inter-Juventus match, Capello sees it as a crucial moment in the Scudetto race: “Even though we’re only at the ninth matchday, the super clash at the Meazza already weighs heavily and can paint a clearer picture in terms of the Scudetto: will only Inter be chasing Napoli, or is Juventus also in the race?”
Capello acknowledged Inter’s squad depth, particularly in midfield, as a key advantage: “We also know how rich Inter’s squad is in quality: Zielinski will be in front of the defense, but Asllani or Barella can also play in that role, it’s a luxury that few teams can afford.”
In conclusion, Capello still sees Inter as the favorites for the Scudetto, citing their high-quality players and dangerous counter-attacking ability. However, he notes that Juventus doesn’t give the same impression, adding, “We’ll see if things have changed tonight.”
