The big match at San Siro between Inter and Napoli is approaching. A few days before the 12th round of the Serie A challenge, La Gazzetta dello Sport interviewed Fabio Capello to discuss the two teams and introduce the game.
These are his words:
INTER-NAPOLI – “A classic championship match, just look at the hall of fame of recent seasons: from 2021 to date, Inter has won twice, Napoli once. The giants of Serie A are them. I am convinced that Sunday’s game will be a very, very important test especially for Napoli. And I don’t say this because they risk losing the top of the table and being overtaken by Inter. This match, for Conte and his team, weighs particularly because it comes after the ugly defeat at Maradona with Atalanta. The clash with Inter offers Napoli the opportunity to immediately bounce back, that’s why I’m sure Conte will have hammered the team.
CHALLENGE – “What duel will it be? Fascinating, because two winning coaches who are having quite different moments are facing each other. Conte is doing a recovery job in Napoli: he is trying to bring back, according to his principles, the play, the intensity, and the spirit of the championship two years ago. Inzaghi, on the other hand, lives as an eternal favorite: since he arrived at Inter, he coaches the strongest team, he is ‘condemned’ to win, he has no alternatives. And he has shown he can wear the suit of a coach under pressure well: the star’s championship, centered in that way, speaks for him”.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – “European cups drain physical and mental energies. However, Inter has found the right balance, because Inzaghi rotates without losing in terms of performance and results: the team in the Champions is doing very well, the win with Arsenal gives euphoria to the whole environment and increases the players’ awareness. Inter knows it is strong and knows how to manage itself. The most important thing, in key Napoli, is to have saved the energy of the starters: I think of the left chain, where Bastoni and Dimarco have been able to rest.
CALHANOGLU – “Man in plus for Inter? Certainly. Also because Calhanoglu is the tactical fulcrum of Inzaghi: his direction not only offers brilliant plays for his teammates but strengthens the team in the defensive phase. Calhanoglu creates, scores, and protects the defenders. With him, Inter will return solid, you will see. Besides, this was seen the other night against Arsenal”.
ARSENAL – “Not all games are the same, and great teams are also recognized from such evenings. Inter is often dominating, lowers and raises the rhythms at its pleasure, but against Arsenal it showed intelligence: it understood that the right way to impose itself was to maintain a more defensive attitude”.
LAUTARO VS LUKAKU – “The Argentine seems regenerated by the recent goals, the Belgian in this phase is struggling but I would wait to give judgments: the championship is long and challenging Inter for him will be an incredible stimulus. Watch out for other areas of the field though. And I come back to the midfield and especially to the direction: if Napoli can field Lobotka again, there will be fun there in the middle.
