FIGC President Giancarlo Abete has urged Italian sides to impress in Europe, in a bid to up Serie A’s coefficient.
FIGC President Giancarlo Abete has urged Italian sides to impress in Europe, in a bid to up Serie A’s coefficient.
There are no teams from the peninsula in the quarter-finals of the Champions League this season, and only Juventus in the same stage of the Europa League.
And with Italy’s top division slipping further and further behind the likes of the Premier League, La Liga and the Bundesliga, the governing body’s chief has asked for more from sides.
“Needless to say, Italian teams need to do better in Europe,” he told reporters.
“There is a problem of competitiveness on our part. We have improved our ranking, but not enough.
“It’s been a long time since one of our teams has been in the semi-finals of a European competition.
“But I am confident that Juventus can do it this season. I think the final in Turin will urge them on.
“This is an opportunity they can’t miss.”
Juve have been drawn against Lyon in the Last Eight of the Europa League.