Interviewed by the reporters of today's edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport, former coach Fabio Capello commented on the latest matchday for the Italian teams in the Champions League.
Here are some excerpts from his remarks.
Fabio Capello, with three matchdays remaining, two Italian teams (Inter and Atalanta) out of five are among the top eight in the Champions League standings, and two others (Milan and Juventus) would currently be in the playoffs. Is Serie A becoming more competitive?
"The credit goes to the clubs and the coaches, starting with Gasperini. Gian Piero has always coached in a different way, so much so that he’s been talked about for years in Europe for his mix of intensity and aggressiveness. But Inzaghi has matured a lot, and Marotta has provided him with a quality squad. Behind Inter and Atalanta are the others: Milan pulled off a coup in Madrid, while Juventus progresses but doesn't score enough. It's a shame for Bologna."
What does Serie A need to do to better prepare our teams for European football?
"Refereeing and commentary need to improve. I'm referring to those who fail to protect the competitiveness and movement of players during challenges. I still see too many interruptions and soft penalties. And the theatrics on the ground, leading to time-wasting, are not only unsightly but also detrimental: they break the rhythm."
And what about Paulo Fonseca? Capello replied:
"With 9 points and, above all, a favourable schedule (Red Star, Girona, and Dinamo Zagreb), optimism is warranted. However, to qualify among the top eight in the Champions League, they’ll need to maintain full focus and avoid inconsistency."
