The former Azzurri midfielder: “A solid group despite physical problems and defeats. And that Scudetto on their chests is a source of motivation…”
It feels like you can still feel the excitement of that evening, September 1, 1990, and as the memories flood back, Massimo Crippa relives an hour and a half that seemed like a fairy tale: the Super Cup had just been created, celebrating its third edition, and now that thirty-five years have flown by, the echo of that gigantic triumph, 5-1 over Juventus, has not faded, and not even a fragment of that epoch-making moment has disappeared.
What do you remember, Crippa?
“Everything, of course. The atmosphere, the satisfaction of a victory against a historic rival, I would say a real feast. Even the general disbelief, because we had done something big, beating Baggio and Schillaci’s Juve, Tacconi and Casiraghi. But we, and I say this without presumption, were Napoli, and you could see that on the pitch, as that match showed.”
1990, Napoli-Juventus 5-1: the big night for Andrea Silenzi, who scored twice. Ansa
You had been Italian champions for four months.
“The second Scudetto had given us a new dimension, coming after the one we had won in 1989. I was bought in 1988 and was surrounded by the cream of the crop of soccer. The best players were playing in Italy, and the best of the best was Maradona, with Careca alongside him. We were a great team, we seemed invincible: first the title and then the Super Cup.”
Instead, impossible to predict, the decline was beginning.
“We never imagined that would be our last success; it seemed like the beginning of a new series. A few seasons later, we would discover that the world was turning upside down. Diego left, the club had to start selling players, and we began the path toward what would eventually be bankruptcy. Slow and painful. But it’s in the past.“
Napoli-Milan is back, today as then.
”In those days, the games were evenly matched, we won at home and they won at home. We were up against other giants, let’s be clear: Baresi, Maldini, Costacurta, Donadoni, Ancelotti, the Dutch. We respected each other.”
What is it this time?
“An unpredictable challenge, in theory, but for me Napoli are slight favorites. The Italian champions remain the Italian champions, even if fate has deprived them of many players, too many in fact. But the difference remains, and I’m not saying that for understandable reasons of the heart.”
Tactically, what are you expecting?
“One-off games are interpreted differently, so a little more caution may be called for. And anyway, there’s more to consider: the exertions of recent weeks and those to come; the absences that will force the coaches to make changes in some way. However, the stature of Napoli and Milan is so significant that I expect it to be a spectacle.“
Will it be the match of…?
”Conte and Allegri, two of the best coaches in the Italian league, indeed the best, with history speaking for both of them, with achievements that have elevated them to the top. They have two teams with strong identities, both of which fully represent their coaches. They have an impact, tactically and psychologically, and give a very clear direction.“
What has struck you about these four months of soccer?
”The depth of Milan, because for me Allegri is performing a miracle. He has no center forward, so he had to invent Leao in that position, who probably won’t be there tomorrow night, but he has always found solutions to avoid the problems that have not been lacking. The difficulties remain, but Allegri enjoys inventing, changing formations, taking risks, suffering, but still staying there, close behind Inter, the league leaders. And then I was struck by Napoli’s consistency, which seven defeats do not diminish. Conte has also had problems, if we think about the incidents that have happened to him, but on the pitch, when things go a certain way, you can see his influence. Of course, take away De Bruyne, Anguissa, and until Sunday, Lobotka, as well as Lukaku, and then you feel a bit persecuted. But the squad is rich.“
The man of the match on each side?
”That’s easy: Modric for Milan. We’re still enjoying him at 40, and we could even blindfold him because he’d still know how to set up a teammate and delight us. He’s an out-of-this-world player. And if De Bruyne were there, we could try blindfolding him too: we’re talking about two world-class players here. But De Bruyne isn’t there, and if it’s true that Napoli did well even without him, then I’ll choose Conte’s team. Waiting for a surprise to emerge.”
Who will win tomorrow night?
“Napoli, of course.”
Who will win the championship?
“What do you think? Napoli, of course.”
How long has it been since you’ve been to Naples?
“Too long, and I have to go back. But I saw the fourth championship parade on TV. It was like an English spectacle, but on the seafront. And if it happens, I might even book a trip. You have no idea how many friends are waiting for me.”
