Former coach Fabio Capello believes that Inter are the team to beat in Serie A heading into the new season.
Speaking to Rome-based newspaper la Repubblica in an interview published in yesterday’s print edition, Capello gave his view that despite major losses in the summer, the Nerazzurri are still the best team in Italy.
Capello managed a number of top teams during his decorated career, including Real Madrid and Inter’s major rivals AC Milan and Juventus, and he still sees the Nerazzurri as having what it takes to defend the Scudetto.
Inter’s summer of upheaval has left many wondering whether the team can keep their advantage from last season over their rivals without the likes of Achraf Hakimi, Antonio Conte, and Romelu Lukaku.
Capello believes that the club have the necessary ingredients to do so, but that it is up to the players and to new head coach Simone Inzaghi to prove themselves.
“Inter remain the strongest team,” said the former manager, “Important players have been sold, rightly players Conte wanted to keep, but the backbone survives – same goalkeeper, same defense, same midfield.”
Of the replacements, Capello stated that “[Edin] Dzeko guarantees goals. [Denzel] Dumfries is solid. Inzaghi will have to encourage the group to prove that the Scudetto was not won only by Conte and Lukaku.”
Of departed manager Conte’s decision to leave the club, Capello sympathized, and compared it to his own career.
“He wanted a Champions League team, the tournament everyone aspires to,” he explained, “He thought he wouldn’t have it. The fact that he left after winning the Scudetto does not surprise me. I made the same decision after five years in Milan.”
