Antonio Conte has explained why he will be cheering on every Serie A side in the Champions League and Europa League this season.
Antonio Conte has explained why he will be cheering on every Serie A side in the Champions League and Europa League this season.
The Italy CT’s former side Juventus” data-scaytid=”4″>Juventus will debut Italian involvement in the group stages of the Champions League this evening against Malmo, before Roma make a return to the competition tomorrow against CSKA Moscow.
Thursday will then see Napoli, Inter, Fiorentina and Torino begin the Europa League proper, and all six clubs will have the 45-year-old hoping they go far.
“Since being CT I have become a fan of the clubs, not only of Italy – the national team has everything to gain if they progress,” Conte has reflected to the Gazzetta dello Sport this week.
“The further in Europe the clubs go, the more experienced the players become and the more minutes in their legs.
“Playing in the Cups signifies taking a path, acquiring a habit to play at a certain level which then leads to the national team.
“Again, Atletico Madrid may be a good example. For the Champions League for the economic potential, at the moment the reality is of a great distance – there was a time when we were able to buy the players from the others, now we have come to sell them.
“Juve have got the experience – quarter-finals of the Champions League, semi-finals of the Europa League. These things stay with you.
“Roma should aim to do as Napoli did – a tremendous group stage and 12 points. I doubt that for two years in a row a team can be eliminated with 12 points.
“Certainly we cannot underestimate the Europa League. In the Europa League we can go far, as long as there is the belief.
“Napoli, having lost the Champions League, has the duty to think big. Inter have experienced a year with Mazzarri and built a team with quality people, but who are also strong.
“Fiorentina will be without Rossi for a while, but have a consolidated base, which has not lost Cuadrado and earned Marin, who is a little undervalued.
“The key for Torino will be managing the energy between the League and the Cup – Ventura is there for a fourth year – no-one better than him will know how.”