Former boss Fabio Capello believes that Milan’s Scudetto charge is over, and has pinpointed the moment that Inter took a definitive lead.
The Rossoneri led the Serie A table for over 20 rounds of the current season but could never shake off rivals Inter and Juventus, with the former now having a nine-point lead atop the league which could prove to be decisive as the number of games remaining continues to decrease.
Capello gave an exclusive interview to il Corriere dello Sport today during which he discussed the current moment that Milan are going through, starting with the Europa League knockout on Thursday night to Manchester United.
“We are out of the cups for lack of quality and simplicity. Fortunately Roma resist. Milan paid for an unfortunate draw and the many absences, many and all at once. Against any other opponent they would be through,” he said (via PianetaMilan).
On the fact there are no Italian coaches in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, he added: “Carlo Ancelotti won a lot abroad too, Antonio Conte hit the mark in the first year, Maurizio Sarri brought the Europa League to Chelsea, Claudio Ranieri achieve the Leicester miracle.
“It is not a problem of coaching, but of technical material. Quality. The 38-year-old champions make the difference with us: the specific weight of Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Franck Ribéry, Rodrigo Palacio, Giorgio Chiellini is still remarkable…”
Capello was also asked who the current best Italian coach is and he believes that Conte sits atop the pile, having essentially captured the Scudetto a few weeks ago when Milan slipped up.
“Conte, who was able to back down, went back to a more effective, rational, more his own football. And he changed his mind about some players. It is a sign of intelligence. And he took the Scudetto. He won it the day Milan lost in La Spezia.”