Fabio Capello slams ‘arrogant’ Cristiano Ronaldo and ‘stupid’ Dibu Martinez and believes Milan defender Theo Hernandez played with the ‘handbrake on’ at the World Cup because of Kylian Mbappé.
The former Italian coach reviewed the World Cup in an interview with Il Corriere della Sera. “I’ve heard about many systems, but everyone used the same one: a 9-1 that made teams defend as a unit and attack with many players. It’s useless to invent something else,” he said.
“Ball possession is the death of football; absolutely boring. Those carrying the ball have no responsibility with ball possession, while it takes courage to play vertically.”
Was Didier Deschamps wrong not to include Karim Benzema in the team for the Final?
“No, I did the same with Savicevic before the Intercontinental Cup Final in 1993,” said Capello.
“On the morning of the game, he told me that he was ready to play after I had prepared everything with Raducioiu. Out of respect, I didn’t let him play. I thought it was a fair decision for the team. Nut the question remains: would Milan and France have won one more trophy with Savicevic and Benzema? Perhaps, yes.”
Did he like Lautaro Martinez at the World Cup?
“I like him, he is a complete striker. He was a bit slow in the Final, but this also depends on Italian football being slower.”
How about Theo?
“He played with the handbrake on because ha had Mbappé in front of him and didn’t want his water to be occupied by other fishes. He was the only one allowed to swim there.”
Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat was perhaps the best defensive midfielder in Qatar and Capello sees a similarity between the Morocco international and an Italian legend: “In terms of grit and quality to recover the ball, he is similar to Gattuso, but with more quality.”
Is Leo Messi on the same level as Napoli legend Diego Armando Maradona after Argentina’s World Cup victory?
“To me, he was on the same level even before the World Cup. Pelé, Messi and Maradona did things that others couldn’t even imagine,” said Capello who thinks Carlo Ancelotti won’t accept the Brazil job: “It would be amazing, but I don’t think it will happen; Brazil’s national pride will prevail.”
The Italian tactician is under contract with Real Madrid until 2024 and said he wouldn’t leave unless the Merengues sack him.
Capello was not impressed by Dibu Martinez’s famous gesture during the ceremony award and called the Argentinean midfielder ‘stupid’ but wasn’t the only one he blamed.
“Ronaldo brought it onto himself and for what he’s done in his career, it’s a shame,” said Capello.
“As a player, he can’t be questioned, but he was arrogant. He offered himself without finding any club that would believe in him; he’s become a bit cumbersome for a team.”
Theo being restricted wasn’t so much on Mbappe as it was on the system that Dechamps decided to use. With already 4 very offensive players up front it’s hard to imagine he would also allow fullbacks to bomb forward as much as Theo is used to in Milan.