World Cup-winning Coach Marcello Lippi says Massimo Allegri resembles him: 'He's concrete and flexible, but against Bayern Munich it's tough'.
The tactician from Viareggio had a varied career after the unfortunate 2010 World Cup campaign, including a coaching experience with Guangzhou Evergrande in China.
“But I wouldn't like someone to think that I'm trying to market myself,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “That's not my case.
World Cup-winning Coach Marcello Lippi says Massimo Allegri resembles him: 'He's concrete and flexible, but against Bayern Munich it's tough'.
The tactician from Viareggio had a varied career after the unfortunate 2010 World Cup campaign, including a coaching experience with Guangzhou Evergrande in China.
“But I wouldn't like someone to think that I'm trying to market myself,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “That's not my case.
“I said enough with China, but I wasn't tired of football, I just wanted to be closer to home. I do have a craving for football, I find myself watching matches and thinking what I would do, who I'd sub off and on.
“If a chance comes up, then great. Otherwise, it's fine all the same.”
The 67-year-old promoted the idea that coaches are now worth as much as top players.
“The idea that a Coach counts for 20 per cent at most is now obsolete. It's just not true, and it wasn't that way for [Jose] Mourinho, [Fabio] Capello, [Louis] Van Gaal or myself.
“The top players themselves expect a strong and confident guide. Not a father, or a brother, or a nice guy, but someone who makes you win and improves your contract.
“At this level it's not just the technical competence that makes a difference. Everyone is highly organised, with an identity.
“The Coach has to be a competent expert, capable of getting into the head of his players and bringing out the best.
“There are some who are excellent in terms of methodology but who struggle in interpreting the players and their adaptability to their game.
“And others who are less 'scientific', but who understand everything with down-to-earth wisdom and can choose the right players. Like [Osvaldo] Bagnoli: he knew how to win and show a spectacular football.”
Lippi then discussed Juventus Coach Max Allegri, whom he claims resembles him in several ways.
“Starting from his signing for Juve at the age of 46. He is concrete, he has good technical-tactical knowledge, and he can change things over the season or even over the same game, the way I used to do.
“And he's brave. It's not like everyone to bench [Alvaro] Morata and notice the anger and the hardness in [Mario] Mandzukic to start a fantastic comeback that nobody believed in any longer.
“Likewise for the idea of a return to the 3-5-2. It's a shame about the KO against Sevilla, it was avoidable and it changes the Champions League.
“Bayern Munich are one of the strongest. But judging by [Coach Pep] Guardiola's expression you could tell he wasn't too happy either.”