TMW exclusive
“I think Spalletti is the ideal coach for Italy, there is a need for clarity and ideas, he is the right man.” Talk like this Gianni De Biasiformer coach of Albania and Azerbaijan, but also former coach of Turin and Udinese a TuttomercatoWeb.com from the National: “He paid for the new experience he went through like everyone else, but nothing can be attributed to him regarding management. Results come and go, but I judge him as a positive person who can do well.”
Retegui and Kean are first and second in the top scorers. Has Italy solved the attacking problem?
“I would say not to say it, but goals are scored because one has the right conditions. They both have good characteristics, they are different, they can play together. Then Scamacca will return, a striker of weight and quality, physically strong and reasonably young. C ‘It remains to be seen how he will return from the injury, but he still has a lot to say.’
Is there any player who has been called up recently that you particularly like?
“I like that Spalletti broadens his choices a bit, that they aren’t stuck in the usual ones. Savona is certainly interesting, they’re playing a good championship, and they have enormous margins for improvement, they need to gain experience and they’re getting it at Juve. I like it Rovella, who is dynamic, knows how to set up, recover the ball, shoot from outside… Perhaps he should make more use of his talent. Finally I mention Cambiaso, who is having an amazing season and is very strong in terms of quality and quantity, then he plays in various roles. It’s in line with today’s football.”
Let’s move on to Serie A, who do you see as favorites for the Scudetto?
“The fact of having 6 teams within 2 points shows that Serie A is much more beautiful and entertaining than in past seasons in which it was immediately clear who could be the leader of the championship. Uncertainty reigns, it is difficult to make a prediction, but Napoli don’t have the cups and this is an advantage.”
Milan is in difficulty. Why?
“I like him a lot, he has potential, many promising players, but something is missing perhaps in experience, in the ability to form a team, a group… It’s the most difficult aspect to evaluate. If you enter the locker room you can better understand the problems”.
Among the new coaches, who has had the best impact?
“Conte entered Naples with a straight leg and imposed his vademecum as a football coach: great concentration, great work on the physical aspect, which is the most important thing, and the ability to keep the players on track, which stands out. Last year there was a negative year, it was important to start again with valuable additions and he is the most incisive.”
Torino started well, then started to struggle.
“Zapata’s injury highlighted a few more gaps. I don’t think the Granata had any plans to achieve who knows what results, they can immediately insert themselves behind Milan and Bologna, then there’s also Roma who are doing badly… He is carving out spaces that he has always carved out for himself, he can get from 8th to 10th place. To make the leap, different investments need to be made, that’s the problem.”
There is ongoing protest in Cairo.
“Like a cat chasing its tail, in Turin we are experiencing an anachronistic situation, out of touch with reality. Football is made with the potential and possibilities of a club… Perhaps it must have the strength to build a group that already has and insert increasingly important players, with perspective, skill and for the future.”
Udinese on the other hand continues to surprise.
“He has good physicality, he has quality, he can continue to do well. It is a difficult team to face, they are good at pressing, at duels…”.
Ranieri returns to Roma. A difficult choice to predict by the Friedkins.
“He is a guarantee of seriousness, work, passion and love for the Giallorossi colours, I have always remembered him as a serious person, with the right humility, but also with the desire to demonstrate that he is an excellent coach. He was underestimated for too long until he won the Premier League and from there he had a different consideration, but he has always been a coach who knows how to bring out the best in the players he has.”
Is it the right thing for Roma?
“The only one who can calm him down is him: he knows how to talk to people, he is Roman and a Roma fan, the choice which can only be right.”