Marcello Lippi believes Napoli are best placed to be the 'anti-Juve' but doesn't want to talk about his old nemesis Zdenek Zeman.
Marcello Lippi believes Napoli are best placed to be the 'anti-Juve' but doesn't want to talk about his old nemesis Zdenek Zeman.
The Guanzhou Evergrande Coach gave his thoughts on how all the major clubs have started the season in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Napoli deserve special attention, they may be the anti-Juve,” began Lippi, who spent a year in charge of the Vesuviani in the nineties.
“Their team has been built over the years with great wisdom and intuition, they have a great Coach who has enhanced the players at his disposal, and they grew during their splendid Champions League campaign last year.”
Turning to two more of his ex clubs, Lippi had words of praise for Juventus and Inter.
“Juventus have added good players to deal with the Champions League. It is important to return to the international arena after winning the Italian championship. It allows you to grow in self awareness and strength. Antonio Conte's disqualification will not be a problem.
“Inter have won four away games, scoring ten and conceding zero. They have many good players who can produce something and win a game at any time.”
The former Italy CT is especially pleased to see the positive start Sampdoria have made under his former assistant Ciro Ferrara.
“They have made a very good start. Good luck to Ciro, he deserves it and so do Samp.”
Lippi believes the problems at Milan have been blown out of proportion, and also revealed how close he once was to taking charge of the Rossoneri.
“It is normal to talk about a crisis in Italy, and starting with two defeats at home isn't the best. However when you renew and lose important players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva its normal to have problems.”
“Have Milan ever contacted me? We were close a couple of years ago, but then took other paths.”
On the sacking of Giuseppe Sannino, Lippi suggested such things are inevitable in Palermo.
“Coaches know that some places are nice to work, and others are a little dangerous. Sannino did well with Varese and Siena, and although it went wrong in Palermo, he'll be back.”
Lippi was however loathe to discuss Roma boss Zeman, who he was at loggerheads with in the nineties after the Czech made doping allegations centred on Juve.
“I'm not interested in these things. I do not know why we continue to talk about it.”