Legendary former AC Milan coach Fabio Capello feels that Inter Milan are the big favourites to win the Supercoppa Italiana.
The former coach spoke to Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview published in today’s print edition, via FCInterNews.
Tomorrow, Inter kick off their Supercoppa Italiana.
It’s a competition that the Nerazzurri have won in each of the past two seasons. They beat Juventus in January of 2022, and then AC Milan last time around.
But the format for the Supercoppa has changed.
This time around there are four teams vying for it, with two semifinals and then a final.
Inter represent the Coppa Italia winners from last season, whilst Fiorentina were finalists.
Meanwhile, Napoli vie for the Supercoppa as last season’s Serie A champions. And Lazio – Inter’s opponents tomorrow – come into the competition as league runners-up.
The new format is similar to that of the Spanish Super Cup.
Capello: Inter Strong Favourites To Win Supercoppa Italiana
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi could pull ahead of Capello and Marcello Lippi as the coach to win the Supercoppa the most times if the Nerazzurri prevail.
Asked if this would upset him, Capello replied “Oh no, of course not!”
“And he would also be winning it three years in a row like I did.”
Capello stressed that “Records are made to be broken. And I certainly don’t want to jinx Simone in Saudi Arabia.”
“Also because it would be hard to do that with a team like the one that he has,” the former coach continued.
“Inter are the strong favourites in Saudi Arabia,” Capello argued.
As far as who he expects could be decisive for Inter in the Supercoppa, Capello said that “It’s easy to name the player who scores goals.”
“And so far Serie A has suggested that Lautaro is the number one suspect.”
“But let me give a word to Calhanoglu,” the former Milan coach said.
“After a couple subpar matches the criticism of him started up.”
“But come on guys, he’s one of the best registi in Europe,” Capello said of Calhanoglu.
He added with a laugh that “In Monza it certainly didn’t seem like he was a player in decline!”
