Former Inter, Napoli and Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez insists Italy are not short of talent, but agrees with Massimiliano Allegri and Fabio Capello that Italian teams have lost their ‘ability to defend.’
Serie A clubs got mixed results in Europe mid-week, with four defeats in four Champions League matches, followed by wins for Juventus, Milan and Atalanta in the Europa League and Conference League.
Gazzetta asked Benitez whether these results show Italian football still hasn’t come out of the crisis.
“It is struggling, as shown by the three World Cups Italy have missed, but there are different issues to address,” he replied.
“On the one hand, there are the clubs, their decisions and investments. On the other hand, there are the national team, the youth system, and the available talent, which I don’t believe is lacking.
“There may not be Baggio, Del Piero, Totti or Vieri, but there are players of real stature and considerable quality.
“I reflected on something Allegri said, which I believe Capello has said as well, and I agree,” Allegri continued.
“Italy have lost the ability to defend, one of the hallmarks of a footballing culture that was dominant for a long time. They also have top-class players at the back: Donnarumma is perhaps the best goalkeeper in the world, Calafiori is an Arsenal starter, Bastoni is a cornerstone at Inter, and Dimarco is a wing-back who can hurt opponents when he pushes forward.”
Benitez doesn’t necessarily think Serie A is competitive enough.
“In extreme cases, you can certainly say that Roma, Inter, Napoli, and Como are built around different parameters,” he said.
“To me, it seems like a temporary short circuit, but the Champions League returns on Tuesday and Wednesday, so we’ll have answers quickly.”
So, how can Italian football bounce back?
“Focus on young players and a balanced style of play,” Benitez concluded.
“Since the rules changed in 2019, allowing teams to restart play from inside their own penalty area, teams have adopted a high press and man-to-man marking when defending.
“That is what happened with Mbappé’s goal [against Roma]: one individual error, with no cover, leads directly to a chance. Today, teams defend man-to-man, which results in a counterattack every time the initial press is beaten.”