Chivu’s Inter are Champions League material, Napoli are the most eagerly awaited, while Juve and Atalanta have a few more doubts: tomorrow in Monte Carlo, Europe’s big names will learn their fate
The Champions League is sending out contradictory signals, to say the least. We haven’t won the cup in ages: in May, it will be sixteen years since Mourinho’s Inter last won it, a dark period as long as that between Milan in 1969 and Juve in 1985. The English, Spanish, PSG, and Bayern seem increasingly strong (and distant). However, Inter have reached two finals in the last three editions and Italy is still second in the UEFA rankings, even winning fifth place last season. So what? Do we have a chance in the new Champions League, which kicks off tomorrow with the draw in Monte Carlo (6 p.m., live on Sky), officiated by former star Kaká, with Napoli, Inter, Juve, and Atalanta squeezed between the big clubs that now spend hundreds of millions without batting an eyelid?
As the old wise men used to say, on the field it’s eleven against eleven, not millions. But today there are clubs that can field two almost equivalent “elevens.” These clubs have the financial resources to raid the best of the market: UEFA fair play risks not limiting purchasing power because it is proportional to revenues that are close to, or exceed, a billion. The only solution would be an absolute spending limit, such as 200 million, which is currently being studied: the downside is that it would open the already wide-open doors of Saudi Arabia. Finally, the physical condition of English players, and others, is often superior to ours: perhaps because they are more eager to train abroad or train better? It’s inexplicable. However…
Inter in the Champions League— Not many people imagined Inter in the final of the last Champions League. Yet it happened. Fourth place in the group. Feyenoord, Bayern, Barcelona in the most epic of challenges. Against PSG, it was a massacre that risks having psychological consequences: it will take a few good results to chase away the ghosts. Inter is the best-equipped Italian team, but Napoli is the most eagerly awaited. With Inzaghi, the Nerazzurri have acquired a cup mentality—the Champions League is not the league—and in their Serie A debut, they showed solidity, concreteness, and a desire to shoot as soon as possible. Sucic completed the starting midfield, Lookman is no longer mentioned, and a central defender would complete a squad that, compared to last year, does not seem to have any gaps. Chivu is making his debut.
Napoli complete— Inter know how to do it in Europe, but Napoli are coming off the back of winning the Scudetto and enjoying financial stability that has allowed them to strengthen their squad in spectacular fashion, not only by modest Italian standards: Beukema, Lang, Lucca, De Bruyne, Marianucci, Milinkovic, Hojlund on the verge of signing, and an additional winger if a last-minute opportunity arises. Napoli can afford a turnover unknown in the past, and Conte wants to prove that the Scudetto race is compatible with a good Champions League campaign for him too. No one is asking them to lift the cup, but advancing to the next round is the bare minimum. And if it’s without playoffs…
Juve’s quality— Napoli and Inter can hope to join the ranks of Europe’s greats. There’s always a surprise. Juve and Atalanta’s mission seems more difficult. The Bianconeri are coming off a disappointing playoff against PSV, who were overwhelmed in the group stage, when Motta was still choosing direct and vertical lines. Tudor has a style of football that could better cope with European demands: there are no drops in rhythm, the ball circulates quickly and first time, even too much at times, and no one looks for horizontal passes. But then there is the question of quality: Juve are still waiting for Kolo Muani, they are weak on the wings, they have no backup solutions in midfield and even in the center, as they wait to see Koopmeiners return. The double commitment could take its toll.
The Atalanta enigma— The least decipherable of the Italian teams is Atalanta. In the end, the only real sacrifice was Retegui, with Ederson and Carnesecchi remaining, and Lookman also there, but we’ll have to see what his state of mind is. Krstovic, Sulemana, and Zalewski have arrived, so the squad is complete. It remains to be seen how Juric, another newcomer, will manage it, as he takes on the unsustainable legacy of Gasp. In recent years, the Nerazzurri have been the most European team in terms of attitude and pace of play, but Juric has not shown any signs of following in Gasp’s footsteps so far. The draw will reveal the eight rivals in the group, which is no small matter in terms of the standings. For all Italian teams, the goal is to finish among the top 24. After that, as Inter is here to explain, anything can happen.
