Dino Zoff has warned Italy’s European representatives that referees are among their biggest threats. “They’re very touchy”.
Zoff focused his piece in Thursday’s Il Mattino on Napoli’s 2-1 Champions League win at Dynamo Kiev but was keen to remind their fellow European qualifiers, among them Juventus, Inter, Roma, Fiorentina and Sassuolo, to approach match officials with caution.
Dino Zoff has warned Italy’s European representatives that referees are among their biggest threats. “They’re very touchy”.
Zoff focused his piece in Thursday’s Il Mattino on Napoli’s 2-1 Champions League win at Dynamo Kiev but was keen to remind their fellow European qualifiers, among them Juventus, Inter, Roma, Fiorentina and Sassuolo, to approach match officials with caution.
“In Kiev, I saw a Napoli with so much personality and, in some respects, a lot of tactical intelligence, which is what you need to progress in cup competitions,” the former Italy goalkeeper, who played for both Napoli and Juve, began.
“Games need to be understood and interpreted: those in the Champions League always pose insidious threats that you have to thwart before they appear.
“Koulibaly and Albiol held up well to the physical nature of their opponents and Napoli never gave the impression that they suffered.
“Milik? I was especially impressed by the fact that he wasn’t someone who participated a lot in his team’s game, but as soon as he had the chance to score, he took it.
“He’s very clinical and determined, plus he’s quite young. In general, Napoli’s group isn’t exceptionally dangerous, but in general the Italians in Europe must be wary of one of their main threats, the refereeing.
“In Italy, as always, we’re used to the lax attitude of match officials.
“Outside Italy, it’s not so. Perhaps in Kiev, it was Napoli who benefitted, but woe betides whoever makes the mistake of protesting too much.
“We must be aware that European referees are very touchy.”