Fabio Capello analyzed Inter‘s transfer market and the ambitions of the Nerazzurri team for the current season. Interviewed by La Gazzetta dello Sport, the former coach expressed a positive opinion on the club’s work.
“Was Jones the player missing to complete the squad? I would say yes. Something was missing in midfield, a certain specific weight. Jones brings physicality and personality. On paper, everything is right, the club has strengthened the team well and this signing is the ideal completion. Then, of course, we will have to wait for the player to settle into the new team to fully evaluate him. But the feeling is positive,” said Capello.
The Nerazzurri midfield now has numerous options. “Yes, it is a complete and very strong department. Zielinski, Sucic and also Stankovic will be useful during the season: Chivu has great abundance and not only in this department. Inter must convince themselves that they can be protagonists in all competitions,” he added.
Inter has relied on three English signings. Does someone coming from the Premier guarantee an immediate leap in quality? “In theory, yes, but you always have to wait for the answers from the matches and above all check if the integration of the players will be positive. The new signings must understand the team’s mechanisms and the needs of their teammates. In midfield it is easier to integrate and I believe, therefore, that Jones will do well,” explained Capello.
“As for Stones, on the other hand, he has particular characteristics: he is better at making the team play than at defending. Not by chance, Guardiola sometimes played him in midfield. Inter at the back will have to be very careful to cover spaces and shield opponents. Spence, finally, has a difficult task because Dumfries was a guarantee. He and Dimarco knew how to get into the box at the right time and with great danger. Only the pitch will tell us if the Englishman will be up to the Dutchman,” he continued.
In the league, Inter is clearly favored. Is there at least one credible rival for the title? “On paper, Inter should not have opponents: they will only need to be careful not to get distracted in theoretically easy matches. Behind them, the team most ready also because they haven’t changed anything is Roma. Napoli is on the same level as the Giallorossi, but we will have to see how much the group will get in tune with Allegri‘s requests. Juve is working well, we will see over time if they will be a rival to consider, but they cannot be ruled out a priori. Milan needs to be studied, but the new project is starting in the right way. The Rossoneri season will depend on how Amorim gets into the players’ heads: that’s the most important thing,” he commented.
A strong team like Inter must face the Champions more ambitiously than last season. What is the minimum goal? “The quarterfinals. Then we know that a lot depends on the draws and the moments of form, as well as on episodes: the Champions often escapes predictions for these reasons. But Chivu has the possibility to rotate and manage the energies of the most important players so that they stay in good condition until May. The attack is a guarantee: Lautaro is a true captain, Thuram an excellent partner, Pio and Bonny are valuable. The only question mark is the reaction when they especially have to defend, but with the ball at their feet the Nerazzurri defenders are the best in the world. The midfield filter will be decisive. It is necessary for Calhanoglu to return to his best levels, when he was among the top three in the world in his role,” Capello emphasized.
Which European teams are still ahead of Inter? “Psg is always there. Real will enjoy the psychological boost of Mourinho‘s return. Barcelona with Rodri will regain balance. Watch out also for Bayern and Arsenal. But the real problem for Inter will be the lack of habit of playing at high speed, because it doesn’t happen in Italy. And by the way: I hope to see in Serie A a different approach from referees who should not whistle every contact nor intervene when a player throws himself to the ground. The refereeing style should be the one seen at the World Cup, also to get our teams used to European rhythms,” he said.
Will we do better in the cups? “Inter has everything to achieve excellent results. But I expect great things from Juve and Milan in the Europa League. In fact, I’ll tell you more: I expect an Italian final, draws permitting. Their main goal this year must be that trophy,” he concluded.
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