Julio Cesar admires Antonio Conte and tips Inter to challenge for the Scudetto but insists “there’s no comparison with Jose Mourinho.”
Conte has led Inter to the top of Serie A after four wins from four, while his managerial methods have been likened to those of Mourinho, who remains the last Coach to win the title with the Nerazzurri.
“I’ve seen a beautiful, tough and organised team,” Julio Cesar told Gazzetta dello Sport.
Julio Cesar admires Antonio Conte and tips Inter to challenge for the Scudetto but insists “there’s no comparison with Jose Mourinho.”
Conte has led Inter to the top of Serie A after four wins from four, while his managerial methods have been likened to those of Mourinho, who remains the last Coach to win the title with the Nerazzurri.
“I’ve seen a beautiful, tough and organised team,” Julio Cesar told Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Conte’s work is coming on great. He’s a Coach who demands perfection and the players seem to have understood that. That’s thanks to him.
“Inter will remain in the title race with Conte until the end of the season. I understood that over the summer, when I met him on the Asian tour, and the first few games confirmed my impression.
“He’s a winner, but there’s no comparison with Mourinho. They’re two great and very professional Coach.
“The fans love Jose because he’s done incredible things, I hope Conte can follow in his footsteps.
“After nine years of no Scudetto, it’s about time they won it. Many had doubts about Conte, perhaps because of the Juventus past.
“It’s silly talk: he’s a great professional and the shirt doesn’t come into the equation. He’s a top Coach.”
The club legend then had his say on the Beneamata’s stars of 2019-20.
“Handanovic, Godin, De Vrij and Skriniar are individually very strong. If, as I believe, they succeed in becoming a unit, they will form a bloc.
“We work a lot on defence in Italy. Before saying that they’re the best, however, they have to win: they need results, it’s football.
“Handanovic’s one of the three best goalkeepers in the world, along with my countrymen Alisson and Ederson.
“He gets less media attention because he hasn’t gone far in the Champions League. He didn’t get opportunities like the others. But those who know him have no doubts about him.
“Lukaku has a beastly physique and the instinct of a proper striker. It’s not easy to change language, country and football and adapt quickly.
“It seems to me that he’s succeeding. He’s a positive person: with his words, he’s also made his mark in educating racists who go to matches.
“It’s a challenge that football has been fighting for over 20 years and must be won.”
The 40-year-old hung up his gloves in 2018, and he revealed the path he was taking off the field.
“l’m training to become an agent. I’m taking courses, studying and setting up a business in Lisbon, where I live.”