Italy Coach Roberto Mancini: “Inter, AC Milan & Juventus Ahead Of The Pack In Serie A, Romelu Lukaku Can Make The Difference” | OneFootball

Italian national team and former Inter and Manchester City coach Roberto Mancini believes that Inter, AC Milan, and Juventus are the trio of teams who will go into the Serie A season as favourites.

Speaking to Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview published in today’s print edition, Mancini gave his thoughts on the upcoming Scudetto race, and also named Inter’s Romelu Lukaku as a potential key player.

Only a few days are left until the Serie A season begins, with Inter kicking off their campaign with an away trip to Lecce on the same day that defending champions AC Milan host Udinese.

Mancini believes that the Nerazzurri and the Rossoneri will both be among the front-runners to keep the Serie A title in Milan, whilst he also names the Bianconeri among the trio of favourites before a ball is kicked.

Asked for his title favourites, the Azzurri replied, “Milan, Inter, and Juve. And then just after them, Roma and Napoli.”

Regarding the Nerazzurri’s defensive issues in preseason he predict that “Fighting for three points will bring more concentration. The defenders are the same we ever and they’ve always been reliable.”

He went on to note, “Another point is that Romelu Lukaku can make the difference in Serie A.”

Asked if he feels that Lukaku’s arrival of Ivan Perisic’s departure will have a bigger effect, Mancini predicted “Absolutely. Also because even though Perisic is an extraordinary player, if Gosens plays like the real Gosens, Inter won’t lose much.”

“They have two points to make up on Milan, and they do so having added Lukaku,” he stressed.

And of Nerazzurri and Italy defender Alessandro Bastoni, he said that “Bastoni can become a great defender, but he has to give it his all. This is an important season for him as well.”