Marcello Lippi claims Napoli are a better team under the ‘fantastic’ Carlo Ancelotti and that Cristiano Ronaldo ‘can only help Juventus’.
Ancelotti’s rotation policy and refusal to budge on a single system has so far yielded five Napoli wins and just one defeat this season, while some believe Juve’s signing of Ronaldo has come at a cost for Paulo Dybala.
Marcello Lippi claims Napoli are a better team under the ‘fantastic’ Carlo Ancelotti and that Cristiano Ronaldo ‘can only help Juventus’.
Ancelotti’s rotation policy and refusal to budge on a single system has so far yielded five Napoli wins and just one defeat this season, while some believe Juve’s signing of Ronaldo has come at a cost for Paulo Dybala.
“Napoli are the same as last season, but with a new Coach who’s done a fantastic job so far,” Lippi, who coached both clubs, told Gazzetta dello Sport ahead of Saturday’s showdown.
“Juve have only changed a bit, apart from CR7… Carlo did well to keep Sarri’s work intact, but he’s added experience, strong psychology and an ability to mix things up tactically without it affecting performances.
“Sarri didn’t rotate much because he was looking for a crazy level of chemistry on the field, but Carlo is different. He’ll get to the end of the season with a fresher squad and one who are all in sync because everyone will have played at the same level as the starters.
“There are those who claim Ronaldo has taken space away from Dybala, but it’s not true. Allegri’s also said it.
“Between the lines and in the final third is where Paulo plays best. Cristiano, on the other hand, just scores, and that can only help his teammates.
“He’s a champion whom Zidane managed to perfection, and Allegri must learn from that, but he’ll succeed and everyone will benefit from him. He can play anywhere and adapt to those around him.
“Allegri is good at constantly changing system: one minute he’ll play with two forwards, then three, then three defenders, then four. Therein lies Juventus’ strength, and Ancelotti is trying to do the same thing at Napoli.
“They’ll succeed under Ancelotti and results will also be seen in Europe, where the Azzurri still haven’t made it to the top.
“They need experience, and Carlo has it in abundance.”
However, the China boss was less vocal about who would win on Saturday.
“Juventus haven’t surprised me, Napoli have a bit, but a prediction really is impossible for me to make,” he concluded.