Legendary Italian striker Paolo Rossi has shared his belief that Juventus are the favourites to go on and win the Serie A title at the end of this season.
The Bianconeri, where Rossi spent four years of his playing career, are currently sitting top of the table with 57 points, a point more than second place Lazio and three points more than arch rivals Inter, who are down in third position in the table.
“Juventus are still the favourites although I do have some doubts because so far they stumbled a little. The clear superiority seen in other years has not been seen this year. Lazio and Inter are real and credible rivals for the title,” he explained in an interview which appeared in today’s print edition of Gazzetta dello Sport.
He was then asked if he has been more surprised by what Antonio Conte’s Inter have done or Simone Inzaghi’s Lazio.
“Both of them have surprised me. Conte has confirmed himself to be a top manager. He always manages to get the most out of his players and leaves nothing to chance. Inzaghi improves year after year and is now certainly one of the best managers.”
Next he was asked if he thinks Inter still have margin for growth between now and the end of the season.
“I think so, because the new purchases must better assimilate with the game plan. Whilst we have seen very little of Eriksen, he is a player who can guarantee a change in quality.”
Rossi then went on to discuss the best strikers of the top three sides, Juventus’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Lazio’s Ciro Immobile and Inter’s Romelu Lukaku.
“Ronaldo is bionic. I am impressed by his performances and the way he is always focused. He looks like a 20-year-old.
“Immobile is in his peak and has got a splendid relationship with Luis Alberto and Milinkovic-Savic. Ciro needs to be supported and he is very good at enhancing his teammates’ work.
“Lukaku guarantees a fair number of goals and does a monstrous job, he is a real driver.”
In conclusion, Rossi spoke on which player in Serie A he thinks best resembles him on the park.
“Lautaro Martinez is a little like me. He has more strength than I did but has the same malice, great intuition and punishes defenders. I was an atypical striker and Dries Mertens is atypical too. Like me Mertens started out as a winger.”
