Former Italy CT Arrigo Sacchi assesses the current national side, warning there aren’t enough Italians in Serie A.
The legendary tactician took the Azzurri to the 1994 World Cup final, and spoke about the state of the national team in his interview with Corriere della Sera.
“Something has moved, globalisation helps,” Sacchi said.
“In TV we see more spectacle and so slowly we’re adjusting. To emulate that.
Arrigo Sacchi believes Juventus will win the Scudetto again, as while he prefers Napoli they’re “condemned to perfection”.
The Bianconeri have won the title for the past six seasons in a row, a Serie A record, but Maurizio Sarri’s side have been tipped to challenge the Old Lady for her crown this season.
“Juventus will win the Scudetto again, because they have the advantage of having a superior character,” Sacchi predicted in an interview with Corriere della Sera.
Arrigo Sacchi doubts Juventus can win the Champions League, because “they only play for 15 minutes and then just defend and counter.”
The legendary Milan Coach was, until Zinedine Zidane for Real Madrid, the last tactician to win back-to-back European Cups and European Super Cups.
“Dominant clubs have won the Champions League, from Alfredo Di Stefano’s Real Madrid to Ajax in the 1970s through to Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona,” Sacchi told Mediaset Premium.
Arrigo Sacchi admits he has no idea why Napoli believe they can win Serie A. “It’s not like they bought Maradona or Careca this summer…”
In a surprising and unprovoked attack on Napoli’s title chances, Sacchi claimed the Partenopei did not have the “history” to classify themselves as contenders for the Scudetto or “top players” that the likes of Juventus had in their ranks.
Arrigo Sacchi says Juventus target Federico Bernardeschi has “enormous potential” but “he’s not Baggio and he’s not Del Piero”.
The Fiorentina forward is expected to sign for the Bianconeri next week, with a medical reportedly scheduled for Monday.
The Turin giants will pay €40m to secure the Italian international, and Sacchi was asked what they’ll be getting for their money.
Milan legend Arrigo Sacchi was “stunned by the lack of gratitude” Gianluigi Donnarumma showed to the club. “He should remember Kaka and Andriy Shevchenko…”
The 18-year-old goalkeeper came up through their youth academy and became a Serie A regular at the age of 17, but on Thursday announced he would not be extending his contract.
“I used to respect Donnarumma as a lad and as a player, but I was stunned by the lack of gratitude towards Milan,” wrote Sacchi in La Gazzetta dello Sport.
We had an exclusive chat with calcio expert James Horncastle about Maurizio Sarri’s Napoli, Juventus Champions League chances and Italy optimism.
You can see James in person along with James Richardson and Paolo Bandini at the one-off Gazzetta Football Italia – Live, Londra Edizione at Union Chapel in Islington on June 19.
Did you know James Horncastle started out writing for Football Italia? We had an exclusive talk about enthusiasm, calcio myths and why pundits can learn from Arrigo Sacchi.
Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello praised Napoli Coach Maurizio Sarri, calling his tactics “an innovation that can wake football up after the Pep Guardiola era.”
The two immensely successful men were in Naples for the Football Leader Awards, as Capello presented the lifetime achievement award to Sacchi.
“Every 20 years there is an innovation in football,” said Capello in his speech.
Words: Peter Fernie
On this day in 1990 AC Milan defeated Benfica 1-0 in the European Cup Final to secure back-to-back triumphs.
Arrigo Sacchi’s side had won the trophy in Barcelona the previous year, hammering Steaua Bucharest 4-0. The triumph in Vienna sealed their greatness as the club collected their fourth European Cup.
