Gigi Simoni has been on the bench of both Inter and Napoli, but predicts the Partenopei will win tonight. “They are hungrier.”
Gigi Simoni has been on the bench of both Inter and Napoli, but predicts the Partenopei will win tonight. “They are hungrier.”
The Coach worked at the San Paolo in 1996-97 and again in 2003-04, while he won the UEFA Cup with Inter before being sacked on the day he picked up his Coach of the Year Award.
“San Siro is difficult to conquer, because it is a stadium that puts you under pressure,” Simoni told Radio Kiss Kiss.
“Having said that, Napoli have the characteristics that could allow them to come to Milan and win. They also seem hungrier right now.
“Napoli know what they want, have a precise identity and a system that is perfect for the players at their disposal. Their performances do not come from possession so much as moving the ball very quickly.
“The only defect might be the absence of important players able to adequately replace the top stars.”
That is an issue that Walter Mazzarri faces this evening, as Edinson Cavani has not recovered from his sprained ankle, so Goran Pandev is likely to start.
Inter striker Giampaolo Pazzini requires a last-minute fitness test with a similar injury, as Claudio Ranieri hopes to make it three wins out of three at the helm.
“This team felt the effects of all their victories over the past few years,” continued Simoni.
“Now they need to be renewed, but new entries often don't get results immediately. I saw Inter play and they don't seem to have the same hunger as they used to.
“As for Napoli, they're right to focus on the Champions League right now, as in the group phase you can lose a game and be eliminated. In Serie A there is time to recover.”