Former coach Fabio Capello has shared his insights on the recent Serie A matches, highlighting Napoli’s impressive performance and Milan’s concerning display. His analysis paints a picture of a two-horse race for the Scudetto and raises questions about Milan’s Champions League aspirations.
Capello believes that Saturday’s results have transformed the title race into a duel between Napoli and Inter. “Inter is the only team that can keep pace with Conte’s squad, which has really stepped up its game,” Capello stated. He praised Napoli’s personality, freshness, and determination, emphasizing that humility is the key to their success.
“Napoli is a unified block: everyone defends, everyone fights. Doing this on the field of a very physical and attacking team like Atalanta is crucial,” Capello explained. He noted that Conte’s team knew how to suffer at the beginning, overturn the score with great pragmatism, and deliver the final blow when the match was tied.
Regarding Atalanta’s performance, Capello humorously suggested that with some substitutions, Gasperini might have been thinking more about the Champions League match than the league. He expressed confusion over the substitution of Retegui, who had been exceptional for an hour.
Turning to the Milan-Juventus match, Capello was critical of Milan’s performance. “I was struck by Milan’s poorness. A bad, bad Milan, which proved inferior especially from a technical point of view,” he said. Capello observed that Milan struggled with Juventus’ pressing and relied heavily on their left flank, stating, “If Theo and Leao don’t light up, it’s pitch black.”
Capello wasn’t particularly impressed with Juventus either, describing their play as organized but struggling to create chances without a fortunate episode. However, he emphasized the importance of their victory against a direct competitor for a Champions League spot.
On Milan’s Champions League prospects, Capello cautioned against writing them off too soon, noting the uncertainty about how many Serie A teams will qualify next year and the short time Conceição has had with the team. However, he warned, “If Milan is always going to be what we saw yesterday in Turin, then the hopes of snatching a ticket for the next Champions League will be practically nil.”
