Chievo Verona, Lazio, Salernitana, Ternana, Milan. Danilo Pagni, a long-time manager, analyzes the events linked to the Italian national team, Serie A and Serie B at TuttoMercatoWeb.com.
Pagni, the national team is showing important signs of recovery.
“The wound is still bleeding, the European Championship’s disgrace is not easy to get over. The latest performances are comforting, preceded by a mea culpa from Spalletti. But at this moment there is no need to get excited. The two failures to participate in the World Cup and the poor impression at the European Championship have left their mark.”
What are the difficulties of Italian football today?
“Physicality is favored over technique. Many say that we no longer play on the streets. Furthermore, in schools there is a maximum of two hours of physical education per week. This football is clientelistic, tactically exasperated. Yesterday I saw Italy-France, there are no monster Italian youth national teams. The victory of Italian football is seeing Gatti and Cambiaso in the national team, people who have worked their way up. Today, players are called up who should light a candle. The convocation is becoming an ordinary fact. But I have faith in Spalletti.”
Scudetto: who will win?
“Napoli. Beyond Conte who managed to get the team back on winning tracks, the squad is very strong. And the coach harbors the final victory.”
What market do you expect in January?
“It won’t be a market where there will be twists and turns. Both Inter and Napoli are probably working more towards the summer. At Milan the coach must have an impact and provide more continuity, the victory against Real Madrid demonstrated the strength of our football. I worked at Milan: there you have to win and convince.”
Rome is experiencing a period of chaos. But Ranieri is back.
“Too much turbulence, too many changes and too many overrated players. Champions have played in Roma, today someone who wears that shirt thinks he is one and he isn’t. Those who played for Roma made us have fun and dream, I think of Totti, Montella, Aldair, Cafu, Falcao. Ranieri has arrived: on a human level he is a credible character, he can have an impact on a management and empathetic level. I would always keep someone like Ranieri in my club.”
Serie B: between talents, surprises and disappointments. How do you see it?
“The B expresses the talent of the Esposito Brothers and also of Palumbo. Christian Sphendi shines. And congratulations to Mantova for what they are doing in terms of quality/price ratio. Palermo, Sampdoria and Cremonese disappoint: in general I say that stickers are useless in football. It’s true that important players are paid but the art of a sporting director is to structure a team with players who complement each other. Often the idea wins over the wallet.”