Ex-Juventus and Inter Coach Marcello Lippi can’t call the Derby d’Italia – “I don’t think there are favourites in these games.”
The Nerazzurri welcome their old rivals to San Siro on Sunday night, having not beaten them at home since the treble-winning season of 2010.
However, it’s been a slow start for the Old Lady, with many saying a defeat could end their bid for a fifth-consecutive Scudetto, even at this early stage.
Ex-Juventus and Inter Coach Marcello Lippi can’t call the Derby d’Italia – “I don’t think there are favourites in these games.”
The Nerazzurri welcome their old rivals to San Siro on Sunday night, having not beaten them at home since the treble-winning season of 2010.
However, it’s been a slow start for the Old Lady, with many saying a defeat could end their bid for a fifth-consecutive Scudetto, even at this early stage.
“I don’t think this match will be decisive for the Scudetto,” Lippi countered, speaking to SuperNews.
“We’re only in Week 8, there are still a lot of games to go. It’s clear though, that there are psychological implications for the winner.
“For Inter, it would be a confirmation of their good start to the season, and if they won they’d be 11 points ahead of Juventus.
“For Juve, winning would mean they are enjoying a revival, and can still have their say in the League. So that’s what it means, but it’s certainly not decisive with 30 games until the end of the season.
“I don’t think there are favourites in these games, it’s the Derby d’Italia, and each has a 50 per cent chance, whether they’re at home or away.
“Juventus are rebuilding, they had one player who wanted to leave [Arturo Vidal] and another who is 36 [Andrea Pirlo] and wanted a new challenge.
“It’s clear that the new players needed time, and they’re slowly adjusting. It just takes time.
“Who do they miss most of Pirlo, Vidal and Carlos Tevez? I don’t know who they miss the most out of these three players, I can only say that they are three very good – great – players who did very well for them.”
Lippi guided Italy to World Cup glory in 2006, and took a moment to comment on the work being done by current CT Antonio Conte.
“The foundation of this national team is the great work being done by Antonio Conte, with all the difficulties that there are and too few Italian players.
“Maybe there are no longer the players with exceptional skills like in the past, but he’s creating a good group, and Italy are capable of winning in any situation.”