Former Juventus and Napoli defender Ciro Ferrara believes the return to Turin will be ‘bittersweet’ for his former teammate, Antonio Conte. Conte, who spent the bulk of his career with the Bianconeri before returning to coach them, is now on the Napoli bench. The two sides meet in Turin on Saturday afternoon, and speaking with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Ferrara previewed the game, sharing his expectations for a traditionally fiery match.
What flavour will these 90 mins have for Conte?
“Bittersweet. The Neapolitan people adore Antonio, but I believe that the Juventus fans cannot stop loving him. The same goes for Antonio, who fell in love with Naples, its fans, the project, but he’s also tied to Juve and to Turin. It makes me think of Celentano’s song, Love Story”
Why?
“It tells of a capricious love, initially rejected, with an unexpected ending: “And to make me jealous, that night along the sea she came with you”. The sea in this story is that of the Gulf of Naples, the night is that of his signature. I see a lot of romanticism and poetry in this encounter. We will all have a racing heart, me too. The racing heart of the fan.”
Well, then you are a fan too…
“Of the team of my city, the roots cannot be erased. But Juve and Turin represent a lot for me, I feel enormous gratitude for them.”
In Naples you won the league and UEFA Cup, with Juve, you won everything. Was the first Azzurri title more exciting or the Champions League in black and white?
“I had the privilege of being part of a Napoli that made history. For how Naples lives the passion for football and for its team, the first league title remains unforgettable. All victories are beautiful, it’s impossible to rank them. The Champions League is the trophy of greatest importance, but winning in my city at 20 years old was just as incredible.”
You coached Juve, you never dreamed of Napoli too?
“The experience as a coach was brief, it made me grow and also understand that it would not be my future. To do that job you have to want it strongly. I did a self-examination: “is it really what you want?”. That wasn’t my path, which took a different route.”
But in summer there was talk of your possible inclusion in Conte’s staff.
“A post of mine was misunderstood: it was the end of the season and end of contract with Dazn. My “if they are roses…” was referring to the renewal of the television experience, but someone thought it was linked to Antonio’s arrival in Naples, bringing it up without reason. I was sorry. With Conte, we are bound by a deep friendship, it seemed I wanted to force his hand and it’s not something I can accept. It bothered me.”
Today, do you see more of Motta’s hand in Juve or Conte’s in Napoli?
“The clubs had to rebuild. Antonio inherited a team and a club in great difficulty, with a Napoli out of the Cups after 14 years. Motta’s Juve is in line with what was expected, Conte instead had to make a radical change and give a turning point. And after that debut in Verona now it seems like another movie. He has already entered the players’ heads, who have regained confidence.”
It would also be needed for Vlahovic for continuity.
“He needs to be served in depth, he struggles more when he has to link the play. But in the end he’s an extraordinary striker who always reaches double figures.”
Motta’s revolution involves young players.
“That’s what a coach must do. Doing it at Juve is complicated, ambitions are high and so are expectations. I remember a phrase from Vialli: “winning at Samp was an immense joy, doing it at Juve a liberation”. My captain was right: at Juve you always have to fight to lift trophies.”
Are Juve and Napoli the anti-Inter?
“Yes, but I wouldn’t exclude Milan, who are currently in difficulty.”
Key men of the match?
“Koopmeiners is of stratospheric level. And Kvara.”
Your sweetest memory with the two clubs?
“They are united. I debuted against Juve and I wanted to end my career with a Napoli-Juve at San Paolo, with Maradona’s presence. Napoli and Juve are my past and my history. I’m proud of it and I don’t deny anything, whether people like it or not.”
