Capello refuses to blame Conte, offers advice to Inzaghi | OneFootball

Fabio Capello refuses to blame Antonio Conte for Napoli’s 1-1 draw against Udinese and feels Inter must move the ball quickly against Fiorentina to get a much-needed win tonight.

Napoli were held to a 1-1 home draw to Udinese on Sunday, moving four points clear of second-placed Inter.

The Nerazzurri host Fiorentina at San Siro this evening, just four days after losing 3-0 to the Tuscans in Florence.

Former Italian coach Capello analysed Napoli’s draw in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.

“More than blaming Conte’s team, I would highlight Udinese’s merits. They surprised me, played a great match, not only physically, as they have in the past, but also technically,” said Capello.

Capello refuses to blame Conte, offers advice to Inzaghi

epa11713791 Inter Milan�s coach Simone Inzaghi gestures during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Inter and Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan, Italy, 10 November 2024. EPA-EFE/NICOLA MARFISI

“For once, Conte’s team was less fresh than their opponents. In fact, towards the end, it seemed clear that Udinese had even more energy. It can happen, the Bianconeri have solid players with strength and endurance.

“Napoli usually win duels on the flanks, with Politano and Neres’ initiatives, Di Lorenzo’s forward runs, and the opposite full-back, yesterday being Mazzocchi,” continued the ex-Milan and Juventus boss.

“This time, however, Udinese conceded nothing on the wings, closing down with great timing and stamina. As a result, there was little service for Lukaku and for McTominay and Anguissa’s runs into the box. It’s no coincidence that the goal came from a set-piece, as Napoli created very little in open play. By the way, what a leap by McTominay.”

Romelu Lukaku struggled against Udinese’s defence, but yet again, Capello sees the Bianconeri’s merit.

“He had maybe one playable ball in the box, and Udinese’s defence did well to disrupt his shot,” he said.

“But I repeat, more than Lukaku’s fault, I think it resulted from the team struggling to break down a truly surprising Udinese.”

Inter lost 3-0 to Fiorentina this past Thursday in the continuation of a Serie A match interrupted on December 1 following Edoardo Bove’s collapse.

“In the final minutes, what Inter lacked the most was rhythm,” noted Capello.

“Their slow possession only played into Palladino’s tactical plan. Fiorentina just had to sit back and quickly counter once they regained the ball to throw Inter off balance. That’s precisely what I believe Inzaghi worked on, to avoid a repeat of the match in Florence.”

So, what will Inter need to change tonight?

“Speeding up the play with frequent switches of play, moving the opponent’s defence,” Capello replied.

“If they don’t do that, the same problems from Thursday will persist, making it difficult to win.”

Inter sit second in the Serie A table with 51 points. Their record includes 15 wins, six draws, and two losses. They have scored 56 goals (2.43 per game) and conceded 22 (0.96 per game), resulting in a +34 goal difference.