Arrigo Sacchi looked to identify why Italian teams seem to struggle in Europe, suggesting that the issue lies with a lack of ‘strategists’.
Milan, Inter, Napoli and Juventus are all involved in today’s Champions League group draw in Istanbul, where they’ll find out their opponents for the upcoming group stages. The entirety of the first phase of the competition will be completed by November 2, due to the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Sacchi first discussed his coaching inspirations.
“As a child I lost my head for Brazil. Then came the Real Madrid of the five Champions Leagues of Kopa, Di Stefano, Puskas, Gento. Finally, Dutch football. Us Italians, at best, taught attention, concentration, because we never played as eleven.
“Always one more defender than the number of rival forwards. We were very strong in counterattacks, but after 80 meters you would come in dead tired. And if the counters had started further forward, in the opponent’s half, wouldn’t it have been easier?”
He looked at which teams where inspired by his style and the issues facing Italian clubs today.
“As Costacurta said, ‘that Milan was copied all over the world except in Italy.’ To tell the truth, that is no longer the case, however, the small sides do it, let me tell you.
“It used to be that the smaller teams would go to Milan and Turin to play defensive, now they come to fight. The coaches have knowledge. The problem is that so many big Italian clubs are run by tacticians, good ones, for goodness sake, but not strategists.”
Sacchi revealed which Italian coaches he’s a fan of in the modern game.
“Many. Sarri, Gasperini, some younger ones, Italiano, De Zerbi even though he lacks the defensive phase that is a projection of the offensive phase.
“Conte: he told me he copied all the exercises he did with me. One who gives his life and studies, that’s why he is a winner, with a little more courage he will do great things. And Ancelotti of course, he has experienced many types of football and has treasured them all.”
He gave his favourites for this season’s Champions League.
“Those who play total football, City, Bayern, Liverpool. And Real Madrid, who are a special mix.”
Finally, Sacchi underlined his opposition to the proposed Super League project.
“Football would lose interest. If you only think about money it’s like that.”
Last season, Milan and Atalanta both exited the Champions League in the group stages, with Inter and Juventus going a step further to the Round of 16.
This dude is always taking a dump on Italian clubs ……. chill Sacchi ……
@Milaneire
They’re nowhere near CL level. That may be why he doesn’t rate them. They’re clearly not good enough.
There is little interest in the UCL now when the same teams always win you bald idiot
Napoli and Inter in the same third pot. It means they will both end up to the death groups.
Hey can you not call Sacchi he has made Italian football great once and should be example forever. If only we could go back in time when he was a Milan coach. He has a reason to cirticise ITA football today, ideas not tactics you know if you read his book!
He’s not being overly-critical in what he says. He’s completely correct too. An Italian club winning CL this season would be like Monza winning Serie A. They guy kinda knows what he’s talking about after all.