Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Genoa Face The Drop, Allegri Leaves Juve, and Lazio win the Coppa Italia (Ep. 13)
142 Plays6 years ago
The Serie A Show's Chloe Beresford, John Solano, and Nima Tavalley discuss the tightly contested relegation race in Serie A, the departure of Max Allegri from Juve and Lazio's victory over Atalanta in the Coppa Italia.
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction to the Sadia Show
00:00:01
Speaker
Welcome to the Sadia Show!
00:00:16
Speaker
Hello everybody, we are back with another episode of the Sidi Ah Show.
Serie A Relegation Battle: Genoa and Empoli
00:00:21
Speaker
And Chloe and Nima, I'm just going to jump right into it because I know Nima is just giddy to discuss this, but holy shit, this relegation battle is sensational.
00:00:34
Speaker
I've been telling you for weeks now, this is the best relegation battle that I can remember for at least a decade. I mean, it's crazy. And it's kind of, you know, the quality is really high as up as well. I mean, think about it. Genoa have 36 points, Empoli have 37, and they can both still be relegated. I mean, that's quite a lot of points. Hold on, hold on. I think it was great until the moment that Fiorentina could still be mathematically relegated on the last day of the season. Now I'm not so enthusiastic.
00:01:05
Speaker
I understand that. That is just insane. I mean, what the hell is Fiorentina doing there? But to be honest, I don't think that, you know, I think you guys have got a better head-to-head with Udinese. So I think, you know, I think you'll make it. But just the fact that Fiorentina are mentioned in the relegation.
00:01:23
Speaker
battle is insane. It is absolutely insane. And it's a testament to what we've spoken on the show about the incompetence of the de la Valle brothers. It's just sad. It's so sad. Now, now, Chloe, we have to talk about Genoa. Well, first off, I just want to say, because I don't do it off and on here, but I was right. Empoli absolutely smacking Tonino, which nobody saw coming.
00:01:50
Speaker
No, no. I did not see them do that. Yeah, nobody saw that coming. Even Katsari was speechless at the end of that match. But can we talk about Genoa for a minute? Because I'm sure we all remember in the early part of his arrival, Prandelli did very, very good. I mean, we spoke about it at length, actually, on this podcast. And we were pretty, we had a lot of praise for him.
00:02:19
Speaker
I'm shocked that they have just fallen like this. I mean, if you look at the quality they have, in my opinion, compared to Empoli, I don't think it's even a fair comparison, especially in attack.
00:02:32
Speaker
Yeah, I think I was thinking about this the other day. And if you think about it, that Genoa are in a similar position to Fiorentina in the way that the owner is always trying to sell and he's messing about and making these statements left, right and center. And they're two clubs that
00:02:53
Speaker
face each other on the last day of the season, both could get relegated. Well, not both, but one or the other could get relegated. And they're both owned by clans, basically. And I think sometimes that rot spreads throughout the club. And I don't
00:03:13
Speaker
I think, like you say, Prandali did quite well when he came in and, you know, since then they've dropped. And I think sometimes it's the atmosphere around the club that is harmful and it's not necessarily what's going on with the coach. No, I agree. And I'm so surprised at that because Prandali I think has done an excellent job and I really thought that they were safe and I thought
00:03:33
Speaker
to me they were one of those teams that were 10, 11, 12 at some point and I expected them to stay there but since then they've just sunk like a stone, like a lead balloon and it's so surprising, really really surprising but having said that I do think that Genoa and Fiorentina will draw and given that Genoa and Empoli, Genoa have
00:03:55
Speaker
beaten Empoli in both of their matches this season. If Inter can manage to beat Empoli, then Empoli will be relegated, which is again insane. 37 points and they get relegated on head-to-head through Genoa.
00:04:09
Speaker
I'm just shocked because, frankly, I think that the quality Genoa have is just not even remotely comparable to Empoli. I mean, Nima Radu, the goalkeeper at Genoa, I mean, one of the most talked about, one of the most sought after prospects in all of Serie A. He's been very, very good this season. They've got Kwame, who, again, everybody, every bigger club in Serie A wants him.
00:04:34
Speaker
Sanabria, an attacker they brought in in January, who's done relatively well. I'm just shocked that, as Chloe, you just mentioned, I mean, this doesn't even feel like
Inter's Emotional Season
00:04:44
Speaker
a matter of quality. This just feels like the environment being so, so low that the team almost gets dragged down with it. Agreed, agreed. And I mean, think about it, that you have Piontek there that scored, God knows how many goals.
00:05:00
Speaker
for them as well in the beginning of the season. And they have Veloso, who was a player I really, really admire.
00:05:06
Speaker
But then again, at the end of the day, they also have La Padula. There is a drop-off here. Sanabria, yes, a good player. I think they were, in all honesty, I think when Hilja Mark was really important for them, the Swedish international, he really, really played well there before he got injured. And then he got injured for the rest of the season. And then Piontek was disappeared in the same
00:05:34
Speaker
same period of time and they didn't really, you know, they didn't really replace him. And then it seems as if everyone just switched off and the danger with that is when you switch off, it's not that easy to switch on again. I really, really hope that Genoa don't get relegated because Assyria needs Adelby de la Lantarna. It is an absolutely fantastic occasion.
00:05:57
Speaker
And I think it'd be horrible to see Seria lose that because I think it would be unfair. And as you said, Genoa are a better team than Empoli. So it depends on Inter. If these players can want more time
00:06:24
Speaker
this rally around, if not Spalletti, then at least show some pride and Palle, as they say in Italy, and actually try and
00:06:35
Speaker
trying to get themselves into the Champions League after the pathetic performance against Napoli, where they just basically showed that they don't care. Well, Nima, if Inter don't beat Encoli, then I'm holding you and Spiletti personally responsible. That's all I have to say.
00:06:55
Speaker
I mean if you ever wanted to take Inter as a club, as a microcosm of what being an Inter fan is and the madness, the emotional rollercoaster ride that is being Inter, this past week is the perfect microcosm, an example of that microcosm. You have Scriniar, they extend his contract
00:07:16
Speaker
He comes out and says that he sacked his agent because his agent wanted to move him. So he took a lawyer, took help from a lawyer to just, you know, get the, to help him out with the legal details. But he negotiated himself with the club because he wanted to stay. Day after, you know, the UEFA reveals that Inter have successfully complied with the, with everything written in the settlement agreement due to the violations of financial fair play and that they're going to exit the settlement agreement. Everything's fantastic.
00:07:45
Speaker
Right? Everything's rosy. We're good. You know, everyone's positive. You know, yes, let's do this. Wrong. Day after, Joao Mario gets sent home like a naughty school child by Luciano Spaletti because he didn't show the right attitude because apparently that's how you get players to fight for you by arguing with every single player in the squad. So he sent him home like a naughty school child. And the reaction, and you saw the reaction against Napoli on Sunday night where Inter basically
00:08:14
Speaker
You know, mentally they weren't there. They really weren't. And then they got completely clobbered and hammered by Napoli who had nothing to play for. I mean, it literally is heaven and hell within the next 24 hours. Like I said in the beginning of this, when we started doing this podcast,
00:08:33
Speaker
You have human years, you have dog years, and then you have inter-years. One inter-year is 15,000 human years. Just in 24 hours, it can happen so many things at this madhouse of a club. I honestly don't know what's going to happen against employees.
00:08:52
Speaker
I honestly don't. Before I go on to praising once again Mihailovic and Bologna for getting a good result at Lazio, we have to talk about them winning the Copa Italia. What did you guys make of that match? The controversy in the beginning
00:09:10
Speaker
And then we saw Lazio really just take charge in the second half. But what did you guys make of that performance?
Lazio's Coppa Italia Triumph
00:09:18
Speaker
For me, I thought over 90 minutes, they were certainly the better team. But I think in that beginning part where Atalanta came very, very close, they hit the woodwork. I could easily see where you can make the case that Atalanta had at least an argument where that penalty really changed things.
00:09:40
Speaker
Yeah, I think they were unlucky. I think certainly in those two incidents in the penalty that wasn't given and hitting the post.
00:09:54
Speaker
Overall, I think you have to say that even though nobody gave them a chance that Inzaghi got his tactics right, he used those 10 days in the gap between when they lost 3-1 to Atalanta in the league to work on a strategy to stop them.
00:10:12
Speaker
and he did that and Atalanta just didn't look like their usual selves and that's huge credit to him and huge credit to his players that they managed to pull it off and you know it doesn't exactly do you any harm when you've got Milankovitch Savage to come off the bench and you know and score and break the deadlock basically.
00:10:34
Speaker
To me, this was the exam. This was Simonin Zaghi's exam to show that he could handle playing in cup games and winning a cup title against a team that technically is more gifted than his team is, that he has the ability to instill the discipline and patience required
00:11:02
Speaker
in a very classical Italian way, in a Juventus way almost, the way that Juventus would want to play, which they haven't been able to under Allegri in the Champions League. So to me this was his exam, this was his last exam to see if he could audition for the Juve job and he passed it with absolutely flying colours.
00:11:25
Speaker
Sure, they were under pressure, they were a little bit unlucky, but they were never really shaking. And the defense, again, got to say, my criticism to Nzagi has been that I've had my questions whether we can organize the defense. Atalanta have one of the best attacks in the Serie A and have had it for three, four seasons. And he managed to nullify them and he managed to completely neutralize them.
00:11:51
Speaker
you know, and to counter attack in an intelligent way. No, for me, this was, this was, you know, Nzagi at, you know, at Lazio has been, has really showed that he is really good enough to be at, to deserve a chance at Juventus. And I think that he is, he's the one
00:12:13
Speaker
He's the one that will take over there. For me, he fits the bill of a Juventus coach perfectly. He's pragmatic. He's a name, but he's not a super big name. The same way Leaf, Peter Apatoni, Conte, etc. weren't big names when they took over. To be perfectly honest with you, Allegri, out of all of those, was the most successful one at the time when he took over Juba. He had one stuff.
00:12:38
Speaker
before taking over Juba. Unzagi, you know, he fixed the bill in so many ways and he's also very tactically pragmatic. He's very flexible and he can adapt with what they have. And I think above all, I think his move to Juventus facilitates a transfer for Sergei Milinkovic-Savage, which I think is Juba's number one
00:13:04
Speaker
goal because their midfield needs to be rebuilt or at least they need to start rebuilding it and I think Milenko Vitsavic would be perfect in that role and unfortunately because that's one of my favorite players and I would love to have him at Inter.
00:13:21
Speaker
So Chloe, what did you make then of Allegri officially leaving Juve? And then as Nima mentioned, we have Inzaghi along with Maurizio Sarri as the two, as of now it looks like, at least the two front runners for that position. So what do you make of
Juventus' Managerial Dilemmas
00:13:40
Speaker
that? Good fits, bad fits. For me, I don't know how Sarri would fit at Juve.
00:13:48
Speaker
Certainly in Zaghi makes sense, but I don't really see it with Sarri. I mean, I certainly see Sarri fitting in better at a place like Roma, but maybe you disagree. I think Sarri is just not a Juve manager. They're so...
00:14:08
Speaker
So I was watching a press conference with Allegri and Aniele and the reporters were asking him things about who the next coach would be and obviously he was refusing to answer. But he was explaining, he was like, once again, I'm going to explain to you that you are a business. I am at the top and I don't oversee what's going on day to day, you'd have to speak to Paratici about that.
00:14:36
Speaker
you know, you've run just like a business and Maurizio Sarri is like a PR nightmare in that respect.
00:14:44
Speaker
like you know you wouldn't see somebody like him being hired at the world's biggest companies because he just says it like it is and I like that about him but I just don't think that's very u-ray to me. I think they want you know somebody who can manage the press and be charismatic like Pep Guardiola would be
00:15:06
Speaker
you know, that would be perfect for them. But Maurizio Sarri, no, I just can't see it. And I see what you're saying about Inzaghi and about, you know, in the past, they've gone for those kind of coaches, but
00:15:22
Speaker
I think with the very clear aim of winning the Champions League, surely Inzaghi hasn't got the experience to do that. Yes, he might come in and he might win the league with Juve, but I can't see him coming in and winning the Champions League straight off while they've still got Ronaldo before his career ends. I think surely they'll be looking at somebody with a bit more European experience.
00:15:49
Speaker
But the thing is, though, that I was thinking you're absolutely right. That would be the logical choice. But you've you've operate differently. And they always have. I mean, Lickby, when he when he took over, he hadn't won anything and they won the Champions League. Trappatoni won everything and he hadn't won anything when he took over. Konta, same thing there. So I think.
00:16:10
Speaker
I understand what you're saying but at the same time you know Pochettino I think would be I definitely can see that in that case but then again he doesn't strike me as a you the kind of manager at all to me it just seems like okay if you want to win the Champions League
00:16:29
Speaker
you know you've are a club that very seldom makes mistakes and when they do mistakes they quickly learn from them. I think that is the difference between them and other clubs in Italy. I think they realized that putting all your eggs in one basket was a mistake the way they did this season with with Allegri.
00:16:48
Speaker
And I think that they maybe want to have a different approach and look at the Champions League. Yes, we want to win it because we've won it, but we have to look at it from a broader perspective kind of thing. And I think that putting that pressure, no matter who the new coach is, I don't think they will demand a Champions League title in that person's first year.
00:17:10
Speaker
So I think, sure, for me it's Pochettino or Inzaghi. Those are my favourites for that position. I'd be very surprised if it was Pochettino though.
00:17:23
Speaker
I would be shocked if it was Sarri because, Chloe, as you mentioned, I mean, you think of the nicely tailored suits, everything is a business. Meanwhile, you got Sarri wearing trainers and smoking a pack of reds.
00:17:40
Speaker
And when he arrived at Juve's stadium, when that was that crunch match for the title between Juve and Napoli on the coach, he's videoed sticking his two fingers up at Juve fans. I mean, come on, this is not the guy that is going to be there like John says in his sharp suit. Yeah, I don't buy the sari to Juve thing one bit because sure, I mean, if you're going to bring in sari,
00:18:06
Speaker
then you're saying basically that you're going in a completely new direction, you're going to go with a philosophical manager, you're giving up pretty much everything that Yuba has always been, and you're going to go full-on, you know, Barzah 2.0, okay? And then you have to buy players accordingly as well. I just don't see Juventus doing that, and I don't see Sarri putting himself in a position after the Chelsea nightmare where he actually has delivered
00:18:35
Speaker
and where he's being criticized despite not getting any other player except for Jozinho. So in my opinion, I just don't buy the Saudi rumors. I honestly don't. I think to me that is one of those classical Juventus tactic move where they plant stories in the media to divert them from
00:18:53
Speaker
to give them an advantage in other negotiations. I just do not buy the Saudi rumor for one second, one second.
Allegri's Future Prospects
00:19:01
Speaker
Okay, so we obviously have to discuss then, Allegri, where do we think he goes? Where do we think would be a good fit? Obviously,
00:19:13
Speaker
There's a limited number of openings right now. Milan, Roma certainly will bring in new managers in the summer. We don't know maybe a club like PSG, what they may do. Who knows, even Barcelona.
00:19:32
Speaker
That's what I was going to say. There's a lot of big clubs who it feels like they're going to make a change, but the season is still going on. They haven't made a change. So where do we think Allegri could go? To me, it would feel like a step down for him to take charge at Roma, to take charge at Milan. I sort of feel like he's ready for the next step. Yeah, I agree. I don't see Allegri working in Italy for a long time.
00:20:02
Speaker
I think he will go to the Premier League or he will go to PSG because Tuhel has been a complete disaster there this season. That project seems to have completely capsized almost. So I think Allegri is the kind of guy you bring in when he doesn't really
00:20:22
Speaker
require that much investment and also he's a very pragmatic guy and he knows football and he can get players to work in his system and he's used to working with big players. Cristiano Ronaldo and him get on really, really well. They get on a storm. So no, I think for me it's PSG or Bayern Munich. If Bayern want to build
00:20:45
Speaker
you know, because now with, you know, Robin and everybody leaving. So I'd say that PSG is where my money is. If not, I think he'll be taking a sabbatical to kind of plan his next step. But if we're dreaming, I've been saying this for a long time now, for five, six years now, that I want to see Maurizio Sarri take over Barcelona.
00:21:08
Speaker
I think that would be absolutely fantastic. From a footballing perspective, his football and his diagonals with that playing material and that football tradition would be incredibly interesting. Chloe, thought? I think Oregri can pretty much go wherever he wants.
00:21:27
Speaker
Yeah, he's built up such a reputation. He's so smart. And like Neema says, his pragmatism is really his best quality. So I think anywhere that wants to play sort of champagne football should probably stay clear. But if you want to build a winning side, then a leggery is definitely a man.
00:21:51
Speaker
And I think, you know, the fact that he's kind of hit a bit of a glass ceiling at UVA and he's struggled a little bit this season, I don't think that will count against him in any way because, you know, I think starting a fresh new project, he, I mean, he took UVA to the Champions League final in his first season there. That was just incredible, really. And
00:22:15
Speaker
I think all the top clubs will be looking at him and I know that he has said in the past that he would like to work in England so if any gaps come up there you know I guess there will be Premier League interest too.
00:22:30
Speaker
Yeah, I agree with Unima in the sense that it feels like now is the time for him to sort of leave the nest, so to speak. Maybe take that next step, because again, he's been linked to Roma in the past. In fact, he was very close to Roma in the past. I just feel like now, as much as I would love to see him at Roma, I don't know if he's going to be willing to take a club that is in transition when
00:22:59
Speaker
He clearly has the the CV To take on a big big job, and I agree with you Nima I think it has the sense that one of these big clubs will certainly be giving him a call because I do think he is ready and
00:23:16
Speaker
You know a lot of people will say well you got he's leaving you then why in the world when a bigger would a bigger side be willing to take a chance on him and For me and again you two may disagree, but it just feels like it was the end of a cycle It had nothing to do with actual results. It just felt like this chapter was over
00:23:35
Speaker
Five years, four doubles, two Champions League finals and five straight Scudetti. I mean, it's the end of a cycle. What other coach, you know, except for Ferguson and Wenger has stayed at a club for five years and was one continuously for five years and has brought them to two, you know, no, no, I think you're absolutely right. It's the end of a cycle. And I think the way that him and Aniele handled it was very, very elegant and very worthy of you.
00:24:05
Speaker
They handled it in the what they would like to perceive as lost I think it was very excellently handled you know the whole you know press conference when he left they both kind of felt that it was time to move on there was no hard feelings they give him a fantastic send-off
00:24:22
Speaker
you know all that stuff so no I thought it was very elegant and it was nice to see it end that way because as a coach I think I really respect Allegri, I think he deserves it, I think he deserves all the credit he has gotten and I find the criticism against him somewhat
00:24:41
Speaker
unfair because he doesn't have that superstar personality that Konta or a club or a Mourinho has and I think that's that's kind of sad because man is that when it comes to football and coaching he's top top draw
00:24:56
Speaker
Yeah, so other than Allegri, I want to just before we get into Atalanta looking like they're going to go in the Champions League over Milan and Naroma, I want to talk real quickly about Sarri. So we touched upon him briefly, but where do you think is the best fit for him?
Sarri's Suitability for Roma
00:25:17
Speaker
Because it seems like a return to the Serie A is almost the foregone conclusion at this point.
00:25:25
Speaker
But which job or which vacancy do you think best fits him? Do you still think Roma would be the best fit for him? Or do you think that maybe Milan would be a good opportunity for him? Because I, again, I feel like for the type of environment, I think Sahri Roma makes so much sense, it's almost absurd.
00:25:49
Speaker
and how much they were made for each other. Crazy environment meant for a crazy guy, whereas Milan, sort of more corporate in the sense they're going to want results right away.
00:26:04
Speaker
I just don't know who would fit the bill for them. I don't know who's available. Because again, I can envision Allegri going back there. No, no, no, no, no, no. So who do you guys think would be, for Roma, for Milan, do you think Sahri fits the bill for either of them?
00:26:24
Speaker
I think Sarri, tactically speaking, fits the bill for both clubs. But as a person, no, it's Roma. He's a volatile character and the piazza that is Milan is his way to
00:26:44
Speaker
too corporate and too calm for him to come in there with his, you know, looking, you know, with his glasses above his eyeballs and smoke chain smoking. And yeah, looking like your drunk uncle. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Looking like the drunk uncle at the at New Year's Eve that nobody wants to talk to and your mom comes along, please go talk to him. You know what I mean?
00:27:02
Speaker
No, it's no, no, no, no, I just don't, you know, I can't see that happening. But if I were to, you know, if we're taught, as I said, if we're to dream, I mean, I would love to see Morita Sarri at Barcelona, I really would, because I mean, just think of their tikitaka history and his diagonal and his movements, that would be such a fantastic
00:27:23
Speaker
uh match and i think actually that his crankiness and his chain smoking and that kind of works at barcelona they they are you know if you look at their history the coaches they've had with kroif who used to sit smoking on the bench you know they it works it just kind of works he's an ideologue and and if there ever was a football club in the world that is a
00:27:43
Speaker
club based on an ideology, it is Barcelona and Ajax. So I've got nothing to support this, I'm just dreaming here. I would absolutely love to see Maurizio Sarri play his brand of football at Barcelona. I think he'd be a good, I agree that he'd be a good fit at Roma. I think in the way he's handled himself in the last year at Chelsea when
00:28:10
Speaker
everybody's basically been against him, you know, they, the English press, you know, expected him to waltz in and play exactly the same football as he did at Napoli. And when he didn't, they just launched these all these really unfair attacks on him. And, you know, everybody seemed to be against him, yet he still achieved so much there. And they're going to play in the Europa League final. And, you
00:28:36
Speaker
In spite of all the noise around him, he's focused on the job and he's done really well. Roma have obviously had a lot of ups and downs this season and maybe more downs than ups.
00:28:53
Speaker
and lots of stuff going on and and sari is a character who will just focus on the football he doesn't even really get involved with transfers that much he just focuses on his work and and and that's what roman need you know because you see you see how de francesco looked at the end
00:29:11
Speaker
of his time there and he just looked ill through all this stress of what was being said and what was going on and Sarah can zone all that out, he just doesn't care. So I think that's why he would work there.
00:29:26
Speaker
But I think the only issue there is if Petrarchi and Sarri would work together, if their personalities wouldn't clash. And I think that is why Roma are looking at someone like Gasparini, because Gasparini is a much more easier character to control than, you know, for Palota than Sarri is.
00:29:46
Speaker
And I think with Petraki coming in and he needs to find his feet, I think that's why that rumor won't die. I think they're really thinking about it in Roma. This disappointment is incredibly important. Whoever takes over Roma needs to get it right. And that is, from Petraki to whoever the coach is, Roma can't afford another season like the one they've had.
00:30:15
Speaker
and they need to get it right so I think that's why Palota is kind of you know not answering any questions about this and I think they're really thinking hard because the next rollout of the administration that he wants to go with they just have to get it right there there's no room for errors and then you know so you have to weigh a couple of things do you take characters that if they like each other they can get on a storm and it will be a huge success
00:30:40
Speaker
Or are you willing to risk that as opposed to taking the safe card and bringing in Gasperini and Petraki, which you know won't have that much friction. But then again, Gasperini.
00:30:53
Speaker
he's never really can he do it at a big club you know it's there's a lot of ifs and buts but personally if it were up to me i'd bring in sari i'd make it you know the players that roma have they can play sari football without too much adapting they just need to bring in giorginio giorginio and sari the rest is is kind of almost there if you know what i mean so um just a minor tweaks i think it would be cheaper for roma to bring in giorginio and sari than it would perhaps do
00:31:20
Speaker
to bring in Gasperini at a two who costs probably less than salary, but then you have to remake the entire squad to play it 3-4-3.
00:31:27
Speaker
Palata not answering questions, that doesn't sound like him. Alright, each of you give me a name for Milan, because it seems like Atozo is on his way out. This one is really the head scratcher for me, because again, as I said, Sarri makes too much sense for Roma, whereas Milan, I don't even know which way you
Conte's Role at Inter and Tactical Concerns
00:31:47
Speaker
go. I don't know who you tab to replace Atozo. Yeah, it's a tricky one really. I mean, I think what we're saying about
00:31:55
Speaker
about sarin maybe not working there. I think Nima you said about them being corporate and I think the way they're after all the chaos of the post Berlusconi times, I think they're trying to be more professional and more like Juve in the way that they approach that their business and
00:32:15
Speaker
I think they'll want a coach, obviously, who does a good job, but I think they'll want somebody who speaks professionally and acts professionally as well. And it's kind of hard to come up with a name that would suit them down to the ground. I know, Nima, you mentioned Conte before, but it doesn't look like there's any chance of him going to Milan.
00:32:44
Speaker
no no he's going to he's going to enter which i think is just a mistake i i honestly you know
00:32:51
Speaker
You know, and this is not my reservations to Konta going to Inter have nothing to do with his background as a Juve coach because, or as a bandiera of Juve. I don't care about that because it's a different, this is a different era. My, you know, this isn't, you know, the nineties anymore. This is a completely different era. Konta is a mass super professional. He wants to win. Marochta knows him. So I don't have any issues with that.
00:33:17
Speaker
My problem with Conte is simply tactical. I don't think that a three-man defense with Godin and Scrinya would work. And Milan Scrinya is the new flag bearer. He is the player that Inter are going to build around.
00:33:32
Speaker
I don't think that he works in a three-man defense and that could cause problems because this is a guy who, you know, if you're going to pick a conflict, Milan Scrillion is the last person you're going to pick a conflict with because he is literally adored by everyone. I mean, interfans can't agree on the color of poo.
00:33:52
Speaker
But they can agree that Milan Scrinyard is the best player on that team. And if Conte comes in there and is playing a football that doesn't suit Scrinyard, who I think is going to be the next captain of the club, you're going to have problems. And Conte isn't known for, I mean, if Spaletti is not a master diplomat, then what can we say about Conte? Well, he doesn't get it his way.
00:34:15
Speaker
He doesn't care. He runs over people like a bulldozer. And then you have another issue. You have an Icardi 2.0, only this time you have it with Skringar, who does not have Wanda as his wife, who does not behave like Icardi. Again, you're going to have a problem there. And so I'm a bit worried about that. Other than that, I'm not worried because Conte is a winner. I mean, he's a fantastic coach. He's got a fantastic track record, speaks for itself.
00:34:43
Speaker
That's my only reservation. As for Milan, I think if Milan don't make it to the Champions League, I don't see a reason why they shouldn't continue with Gattuso because he's done a good job. I think from what you can expect of him, he has improved and give him a full, you know, another full pre-season and another transfer window. I think this Milan could really be a top 14 next season.
00:35:06
Speaker
A couple of hours ago, before we started recording this, Luca Momblano, who apparently is the new Oracle of all exterior, he mentioned that Insagi is actually close to Milan.
00:35:22
Speaker
So we've discussed him potentially a Juve. Wow. But how much of a fit do you think that he would be a Milan? Again, Chloe, you mentioned in a couple of other podcasts about his whining. Yeah. I don't know how that would really go over in Milan.
00:35:42
Speaker
I think he'd have to kind of cut that out a little bit. But I think if you take away the excuse making and the moaning, I think he'd actually, you know, I think he'd be good there. I think he's proven himself, like we said earlier, tactically.
00:36:04
Speaker
he's done well with quite limited resources at Lazio, so I think with a good squad at Milan he could do a good job. I agree. I think in Zagie at AC Milan would be a master stroke for Milan.
00:36:24
Speaker
I would applaud it because that would be good for Milan and they would be a top four team again because I think his personality suits, I mean if we're talking that Sarri's personality doesn't suit Jube or Milan,
00:36:42
Speaker
Inzaghi's suit, Milan and Juve, he has, he looks good in a suit. You know what I mean? Like he, he can behave that, he can handle that kind of, you know. That has to be the prerequisite. If you don't look good in a suit, have no chance. You know what I mean? I mean, he doesn't sit there and looks angry at the world and smokes a cigarette and growls. Sorry, Gianpaolo, no big job for you ever. No, no, no.
00:37:09
Speaker
No, no, he does rubbish in a suit. Yeah, he does. No, but seriously, I think I think that would be an excellent fit for Milan. But I wonder, I mean, I didn't I don't follow.
00:37:20
Speaker
What's his name on Twitter? Maybe I should, but I think that if it's true that Milan have got Nzagi, then kudos to Leonardo and Maldini for doing an excellent job because I really do believe and I've said this on this podcast several times that Simone Nzagi is the next Italian super coach. I think he's proven that.
00:37:42
Speaker
Alright so Roma Milan look like they are missing out on Champions League football and Atalanta look like they are ready to punch their ticket after they drew with Juve at the weekend 1-1.
Atalanta's Champions League Aspirations
00:37:56
Speaker
So we've spoken about it before but now it actually looks like it's going to become a reality.
00:38:02
Speaker
I've said it before and I will continue to say it, Atalanta, despite what some may be saying, I don't think they are a waste of a Champions League place because if you're better than the other clubs who are shit, the reality is you deserve Champions League football. But Chloe, are you worried about their ability to bring in some reinforcements because
00:38:30
Speaker
they did look extremely stretched in that Copa Italia final. I think, and this is just my opinion, but I think their lack of depth became very, very apparent when they were asked to play beyond the Serie A. What do you think about that? Are you worried about them bringing in reinforcements and also
00:38:53
Speaker
What if, and this could become reality, I mean, what if Gianpiato Gasparini does leave? Does that worry you as well?
00:39:02
Speaker
If I was an Atlanta fan, I'd be absolutely terrified of him leaving because in my opinion, there's nobody that could work as well at that club as Gasparini has. He's just the right man at the right time in the right place for that job. As for the squad, I agree, John, that they look very thin in that Coppertally final.
00:39:28
Speaker
But I think with the increased money from the Champions League that they've proven before, you know, when they lost Kesia and Conti and plays like that, they did, they've done okay. And I know now they've kind of been stripped down to the bare bones of that very productive youth system that they've got. But
00:39:51
Speaker
I think they have a good structure in the club where they can reinvest the money into the team and buy the necessary reinforcements.
00:40:04
Speaker
whether they'll go far in the Champions League, I don't know. But I think that losing Gasparini is the biggest problem that they have if they do qualify for the Champions League. And I think they won't have a problem attracting players because who wouldn't want to play in the Champions League with a club that have such a good story like Atalanta?
00:40:27
Speaker
No, I agree. I think it's well done. Well, real quick, Chloe, we've seen in recent, within the last 48 hours here, Joseph Illicic get linked to a move to Napoli. Yes. I mean, he's one of the guys who I think if they lose him, I mean, obviously losing Gasparini would be a big, big, big problem. But to me, he's one of those quintessential Atalanta players that makes this team tick. And I think losing a name like him would be devastating.
00:40:57
Speaker
Yeah, I think because he is a really huge talent and before now he's not really been able to express that because he does have this lazy streak in him that was prevalent at Palomo and Fiorentina and I think if he goes to Napoli it'll reappear again. I think in that way they'd have to probably pay quite a lot of money for a play of his talent that performed consistently.
00:41:27
Speaker
So yeah, it probably will be quite a blow, but I don't think it's something they can't get over. I think they could find somebody that would work in that system in a similar way, if not exactly the same, but I think Napoli making a huge mistake if they try and sign him, to be honest.
00:41:48
Speaker
I mean, for me, losing Gasperini would be a disaster for Atalanta. Losing Illicic, I don't think it would even bother them, simply because of the fact that if there's anything that this club, that Atalanta has shown us time and time and time again, is their ability to lose key players in key positions and bounce back.
00:42:07
Speaker
Also, they're a club that has a really good relationship with other clubs, with bigger clubs in terms of being able to loan them. They have an excellent relationship with both Juventus and Inter and with Milan. You see, it wouldn't surprise me. Again, this is just me, just giving an example. I don't have any evidence behind this, but it wouldn't surprise me. For example, if you are to sign a big name player in attack this summer,
00:42:33
Speaker
then why not, you know, that Moisqin would end up being loaned out to Atalanta for a season to get Serie A experience and Champions League experience. It would be win-win for everyone involved. You know, they are good at making those kinds of deals. So I don't think that Illicic leaving them would bother them that much. In fact, I think the most important thing they have to do is to keep Duvan Zapata. That's the big money signing that they should be doing because I think he
00:43:02
Speaker
you know, his strength, his physique, his ability in the air, his ability to keep the ball high up, that is the kind of player that, you know, they want to have that kind of player under Gasperini. They had it under Petanya. They weren't happy with him, so they sold him. They have Zapata, and he's worked brilliantly. So I think for me, the most important thing is to keep Gasperini
00:43:29
Speaker
and to redeem as Duvan Zapata. The rest I think they're a club that they're used to this situation and I think you know given their good relationship with all other clubs I think they could they could pull off some awesome loan deals as well you know just simple dry loan deals which I think would work so for them I just I hope for them for their sake that they would stay that they would that they will hang on to Gasperin
00:43:56
Speaker
And as for the Champions League, regardless of Gasperini, regardless of who they may or may not sell or purchase, are we at least semi-hopeful they can do something in the competition? Yeah.
00:44:14
Speaker
They've shown in the Europa League that this is not a team that, I mean, Atalanta under Gasparini play in one way. This is how they play, both in attack and in defense. And right now in Europe, if you look at it, the teams that are in the finals are identity teams. These are teams that play one way come hell or high water.
00:44:36
Speaker
So that kind of, that brand of football is apparently the most successful right now. So I don't think that that would be a hindrance for them. I think that they could do pretty well. Third, you know, third, they should be able to pull off. Third spot. Yeah, I mean, it would be quite the story if they could actually make it to the knockouts. I think that would be
00:45:01
Speaker
just sensational work from them. But I do agree by both of you, if they were to lose Gasperini, I think that would be the bigger blow more so than losing any other player. And Chloe, after having watched Illicic as much as I'm sure you have, I just can't believe Napoli would be willing to take a punt on him.
00:45:25
Speaker
But don't you think that Ancelotti, if there ever was going to be a coach who can get the best out of a 30, 31-year-old with who's had a history of attitude problem and laziness in the past, don't you think Ancelotti is like the ideal person to give that, you know, to coach that way? You know, I did think that, Nima, I did think, you know, well, maybe Ancelotti, but it
00:45:50
Speaker
At this moment in time, it is a maybe. It is, well, maybe Antelotti can get the best out of him and he's really well-placed to do so, but we don't know. And the fact that Napoli will be willing to gamble that amount of money for a player who may or may not replicate his former Atalanta is... I'd be worried if I was a Napoli fan.
00:46:14
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I just he's one of those players that man, when he is on his day, he is one of the most sensational to watch. But when he is off, he is abysmal. Yeah. Unwatchable. When it comes to pouting, he has one of the worst body languages in all of Syria. I mean, he doesn't feel like it. He just I've seen it so many times and he just
00:46:45
Speaker
Yeah, just walking about the pitch when things aren't going this way. I agree. So let's end this here. This can go, there's no criteria we set up for this. This is just spur of the moment.
00:47:01
Speaker
If you could pick one or two of your most disappointing sides relative to expectations, so it can be someone who underperformed in the Champions League, someone who you thought would survive but they're headed for relegation, give me your one or two most disappointing sides of City Eye this season.
Fiorentina and Genoa's Disappointing Seasons
00:47:21
Speaker
Chloe, you go first. Well, I've got to say for you and Tina, haven't I?
00:47:29
Speaker
I mean, there was quite a lot of expectation at the beginning of the season. Some people even talked about a potential Champions League play, which seems absolutely ridiculous now. But I mean, you know, looking at it, they did
00:47:44
Speaker
have some really exciting attacking players and a lot of people thought that they would do the business this season and to say that they could potentially get relegated even going in the last game of the season is just, I mean they were, I looked in week 24 they were 8s
00:48:05
Speaker
So the slide has just been unbelievable. And it's a symptom of what has been going on at the club and the dislike of the owners and what happened with Pioli. And I think the players weren't particularly impressed of how he was treated. And I think the players have just fallen apart. So definitely Fiorentina.
00:48:32
Speaker
Well, I guess all our three sides, Intel and Roma as well. I was just going to say that like Roma for me, the free fall, I mean, aside from Fiorentina, Roma's collapse has been, it is a collapse. And the same thing can be said about Inter, since Christmas day when that audio of Raja Nangolan leaked and the sheer absurd
00:48:59
Speaker
uh date you know reality tv nonsense that has been coming out from inter on a daily basis for six months now has been has been has been cartoonish um and and it's
00:49:13
Speaker
It's kind of, you know, yeah, but I agree with Chloe. It's all three sides. It's the e-Kardashians, it's the Roma, and it's the Fiorentina debacle. It's so, so a couple of colleagues of mine at Semperinta, on our part, before the season, Fulvio and Will, they said that, you know, they were looking forward to this season, that this is going to be the season where Inter stopped.
00:49:40
Speaker
with the nonsense that were going to be a stable club and instead it turned out to be the the most insane inter-season inter-out-inter themselves uh this season so no i i but but and i think that i think they're gonna miss the Champions League so i'm gonna yeah i'm gonna go with Roma, Fiorentina and Inter. Yeah i just to change it up a little bit i mean i coming into this season i mean Genoa again
00:50:09
Speaker
in my opinion, they should be nowhere near the drop line, especially in attack. I just feel like the quality that they have is so much further above the rest of their counterparts that are fighting them for that relegation spot. I just, I'm shocked that they're that low. One of the, I mean, we have to talk about, and I brought them up earlier,
00:50:34
Speaker
We discussed him on the last podcast, but we have to do it again. I am shocked at Bologna. Could you imagine if Mihailovic was there the entire season? I'm just shocked at how much they have improved since he's arrived. Another fantastic result at the weekend as they drew 3-3 against Lazio at the Olimpico. I can't say enough about it. I know we're talking about disappointing sides.
00:50:58
Speaker
I'm just so shocked by how good they've been since his arrival I mean yeah he's he's just been he's been wonderful and they they've stayed up with a round to go now and that that was unthinkable at the start of the season and it's a bit of a damning indictment on the coaching abilities of Pippo Einsaghi that
00:51:23
Speaker
that he's come in and you know and they've done so so well I mean obviously they they have since Mihailovic has come in they've achieved a lot better than people expected but there's such a vast difference in between the results from before and the results since he's come in. Yeah no I agree I agree then I want to highlight Orosolini like Orosolini's development under Mihailovic has been
00:51:51
Speaker
sensational. What a player. He's going to be the one to watch next season. Yeah, he's been good. But yeah, I mean, other than Genoa, Chloe, I'm sorry, but I think Fiona, Tina. Yeah, not good. I mean, they've lost five in a row or is it six now? I'm trying not to be counting. Yeah, we're not counting. I'm just assuming.
00:52:19
Speaker
Yeah, I think it's five. I think it's five they've lost in a row. And to be honest, I cannot see them winning at the weekend. I just don't think they've got anything to give. I just I think they'll be relying on other results. I mean, certainly, I mean, you would assume that Montala stays in place. I mean, to me, it'd be absurd to send him away after just bringing him back.
00:52:43
Speaker
But just real quickly here to end this, I mean, I feel like, as I said before, on a previous podcast, I feel like they're sort of in a similar situation situation as Roma in the sense that they just need an overhaul, like just, just set fire to the place, burn it down to the ground and rebuild it. No, I mean, yeah, what do you think Fiore and Tina are at at the moment?
00:53:07
Speaker
Yeah, I think not set fire to the actual place because I like the stadium but certainly send the team packing pretty much and start again. They're going to have to and they're going to have to do a better job of it this time because they already started again two years ago
00:53:28
Speaker
and it's for various different reasons it's not work so yeah they're gonna have to I think because I don't see how anyone can lift this gloom with the current set of players that they've got. Would you finance said changes with the sale of Kiesa?
00:53:52
Speaker
At this point in time, I think it's got so bad. I wouldn't have said yes in the past, but I think it's got so bad that I think I would say yes because I think they need a new team more than they need one player. And as I love him, you know, that's how it is.
00:54:15
Speaker
Well, Inter apparently want to send Matteo Politano plus 30 million and Caramo as well. They want to basically give all the players that Inter don't want plus a little bit of cash. I would take Politano in a heartbeat. I really would. I mean, that's a decent amount of cash. You get a good player. And even if they weren't selling for any counterparts, if they were to just sell him for 50, 60 million euros, I mean, you can get three, four, however many quality players to actually rebuild this. I mean, if I were Fiorentina, I would do that in a heartbeat.
00:54:45
Speaker
Yeah and it's hard because he's a player that you're kind of attached to and don't really want to see him leave but at the moment he's not the finished product and
00:54:58
Speaker
we don't know how good he's going to be. So I mean, it's a gamble to cash in now because in the future it could be worth more. But equally, if he doesn't turn out to be the player we think he's going to be, he might not be worth quite as much. So at this time when they need to rebuild, I think it makes sense, unfortunately.
00:55:19
Speaker
Sure, sure. Yeah, I agree. I think I would finance a lot of the changes with him just because it is sort of like in the sense for Allegri, this just feels like the right time to move on. So we will we're going to end it there. As always, thank you so much for listening. The final match day is next week, which is this has been a very particular season, very odd, a lot of rollercoasters for several clubs.
00:55:47
Speaker
Obviously a lot of talking points, but it's never a dull moment So we will be back next week to discuss the final match day in Syria So we will talk to you then as always. Thank you so so much for listening and until next time. Bye. Bye everybody