Antonio Conte’s Napoli is the frontrunner in the league, and all the credit seems to go to the coach.
“Antonio Conte is like a master key when you’ve lost the hotel key and you say: let’s take him, he’s stronger in certain aspects. When it comes to revitalizing a squad, I’m not even talking about individual players but the team as a whole, mentally, and bringing back a winning mentality, the name that must always come up is Antonio Conte. Absolutely.
He’s doing a masterpiece because, let’s not forget, Napoli is coming off a difficult season, but just two years ago, they were the champions of Italy. So, we are talking about a team that had lost its identity and hunger to win, and he has brought it back. He is a master key; he improves the mentality of every club he coaches.”
The title race, however, is still wide open because Inter is keeping up blow for blow…
“Absolutely, but that’s what makes this league exciting, both for those fighting for the title and for those battling to avoid relegation: everything is up in the air.
For me, the only real contender is Inter. Inter is a strong team. It’s a group that has been playing together for several years under the same coach.
Inzaghi’s team is technically the strongest: for me, Inter remains the best. But what makes Napoli intimidating is their consistency in getting results and their defensive solidity. After the Verona debacle, they switched mentally, guys!
They don’t play an overwhelmingly spectacular game, but they are incredibly focused, clinical, and in top physical shape.”
Champions League chapter: 3 out of 5 Italian teams could reach the Round of 16 without going through the playoff round. If Inter, Atalanta, and Milan win, they will be among the top 8.
“Yes, Milan has had a decent run in the Champions League. Atalanta and Inter are two guarantees. Atalanta has a very exciting match ahead because, in my opinion, in the Champions League, they will face the most in-form team: Barcelona. Barcelona won’t have an easy time because Atalanta is a frightening team in Europe. It will be a great game; I’d love to see Barcelona’s playing principles against a team that works on intensity and one-on-one matchups.
Sure, Barcelona is technically and talent-wise the stronger team, but it will be a fascinating contest. As for Inter, they are the most seasoned of the Italian teams. They reached a Champions League final, they have awareness, but all three of them, for their performances, deserve to go directly to the Round of 16. Even Juve, which honestly hasn’t impressed me in the Champions League from the start, still deserves to advance, even if through the playoffs, due to their consistency and compactness, though I see them as the weakest.”
But Juve is the only big team left that, barring a miracle, won’t go directly to the Round of 16… What does that mean?
“It means Juve’s season reflects this outcome. Few wins, that spark of enthusiasm never truly ignited. The club is sending a strong message that they still believe in the coach’s project, but the truth is that Juve doesn’t scare anyone.
Meanwhile, Atalanta has a clear identity, an intense rhythm, and plays proactive football, and the same goes for Inter, and to some extent, Milan, which is slightly more offensive in its approach compared to Juve. I see Juve as Allegri’s Juve, with some different traits due to the player changes.
They didn’t have Conceicao Jr, they didn’t have a Thuram, a young player like Ildiz—it can vary from year to year. Now they got Kolo Muani, but in terms of playing style, principles, and ideas, they have never really improved… And I refuse to believe that missing just one player, albeit a great one (for me, the best defender in Italian football) like Bremer, can cause such a dramatic drop in performance level. No, I think that’s just an excuse. But their struggles resemble those of Milan and Roma.”
Is Juve the disappointment of the season, then?
“In the league, Milan’s trajectory mirrors Juve’s. Juve salvaged itself early on with a few draws and some positive results, but Roma’s season is not too different from theirs. We’re talking about a team that never really had a clear identity, a team that has always worked in a confusing manner. Now, with Ranieri, they’ve strung together some good results, bringing a continuity that was previously missing, but I strongly believe that Ranieri can’t work miracles.
Ranieri has given them some awareness now, but the quality level of this team and, above all, their intensity is at a minimum. Roma never gives me the impression of being a dominant force. They have some good matches, then some bad ones.”
Looking ahead to Thursday’s Europa League match, a do-or-die clash with Eintracht Frankfurt, these words sound like a warning sign…
“The only advantage for this match is the home factor because Roma tends to be slightly more aggressive and energetic at home, but we are talking about a minimal impact over the 90 minutes.
Roma needs to score first because otherwise, it will get tough.”
Roma might pull off the most sensational transfer move this January by bringing Casemiro to Serie A.
“Look, the idea of that name makes me think, ‘Wow,’ but it’s not the Casemiro of Real Madrid. I don’t think it’s a great deal.
It would feel like another Hummels: no offense to Hummels, he’s great, but I wouldn’t load up a team with too many players like him because then we start talking about athletic aspects and intensity. Casemiro is a player who now manages himself a bit more. Roma needs someone with stamina.”
Gaetano D'Agostino
Over 10 years as a key player in Serie A, with Roma, Messina, Udinese, Siena, and Pescara. In 2009, he was close to joining Real Madrid. He won the Italian championship with Roma in 2001 and represented Italy at the Under-15, 16, 18, and 21 levels, winning the European Championship with the Under-21 team in 2004. In 2009, he also played for the senior national team. He runs an academy, Dago Soccer Technique, where he teaches individual technique and tactics. He works as a sports pundit on radio and TV and, starting in January 2025, he is the talent for SMIT with his segment Club Dago.
Analysis of Serie A After Matchday 22
Antonio Conte’s Napoli is the frontrunner in the league, and all the credit seems to go to the coach.
“Antonio Conte is like a master key when you’ve lost the hotel key and you say: let’s take him, he’s stronger in certain aspects. When it comes to revitalizing a squad, I’m not even talking about individual players but the team as a whole, mentally, and bringing back a winning mentality, the name that must always come up is Antonio Conte. Absolutely.
He’s doing a masterpiece because, let’s not forget, Napoli is coming off a difficult season, but just two years ago, they were the champions of Italy. So, we are talking about a team that had lost its identity and hunger to win, and he has brought it back. He is a master key; he improves the mentality of every club he coaches.”
The title race, however, is still wide open because Inter is keeping up blow for blow…
“Absolutely, but that’s what makes this league exciting, both for those fighting for the title and for those battling to avoid relegation: everything is up in the air.
For me, the only real contender is Inter. Inter is a strong team. It’s a group that has been playing together for several years under the same coach.
Inzaghi’s team is technically the strongest: for me, Inter remains the best. But what makes Napoli intimidating is their consistency in getting results and their defensive solidity. After the Verona debacle, they switched mentally, guys!
They don’t play an overwhelmingly spectacular game, but they are incredibly focused, clinical, and in top physical shape.”
Champions League chapter: 3 out of 5 Italian teams could reach the Round of 16 without going through the playoff round. If Inter, Atalanta, and Milan win, they will be among the top 8.
“Yes, Milan has had a decent run in the Champions League. Atalanta and Inter are two guarantees. Atalanta has a very exciting match ahead because, in my opinion, in the Champions League, they will face the most in-form team: Barcelona. Barcelona won’t have an easy time because Atalanta is a frightening team in Europe. It will be a great game; I’d love to see Barcelona’s playing principles against a team that works on intensity and one-on-one matchups.
Sure, Barcelona is technically and talent-wise the stronger team, but it will be a fascinating contest. As for Inter, they are the most seasoned of the Italian teams. They reached a Champions League final, they have awareness, but all three of them, for their performances, deserve to go directly to the Round of 16. Even Juve, which honestly hasn’t impressed me in the Champions League from the start, still deserves to advance, even if through the playoffs, due to their consistency and compactness, though I see them as the weakest.”
But Juve is the only big team left that, barring a miracle, won’t go directly to the Round of 16… What does that mean?
“It means Juve’s season reflects this outcome. Few wins, that spark of enthusiasm never truly ignited. The club is sending a strong message that they still believe in the coach’s project, but the truth is that Juve doesn’t scare anyone.
Meanwhile, Atalanta has a clear identity, an intense rhythm, and plays proactive football, and the same goes for Inter, and to some extent, Milan, which is slightly more offensive in its approach compared to Juve. I see Juve as Allegri’s Juve, with some different traits due to the player changes.
They didn’t have Conceicao Jr, they didn’t have a Thuram, a young player like Ildiz—it can vary from year to year. Now they got Kolo Muani, but in terms of playing style, principles, and ideas, they have never really improved… And I refuse to believe that missing just one player, albeit a great one (for me, the best defender in Italian football) like Bremer, can cause such a dramatic drop in performance level. No, I think that’s just an excuse. But their struggles resemble those of Milan and Roma.”
Is Juve the disappointment of the season, then?
“In the league, Milan’s trajectory mirrors Juve’s. Juve salvaged itself early on with a few draws and some positive results, but Roma’s season is not too different from theirs. We’re talking about a team that never really had a clear identity, a team that has always worked in a confusing manner. Now, with Ranieri, they’ve strung together some good results, bringing a continuity that was previously missing, but I strongly believe that Ranieri can’t work miracles.
Ranieri has given them some awareness now, but the quality level of this team and, above all, their intensity is at a minimum. Roma never gives me the impression of being a dominant force. They have some good matches, then some bad ones.”
Looking ahead to Thursday’s Europa League match, a do-or-die clash with Eintracht Frankfurt, these words sound like a warning sign…
“The only advantage for this match is the home factor because Roma tends to be slightly more aggressive and energetic at home, but we are talking about a minimal impact over the 90 minutes.
Roma needs to score first because otherwise, it will get tough.”
Roma might pull off the most sensational transfer move this January by bringing Casemiro to Serie A.
“Look, the idea of that name makes me think, ‘Wow,’ but it’s not the Casemiro of Real Madrid. I don’t think it’s a great deal.
It would feel like another Hummels: no offense to Hummels, he’s great, but I wouldn’t load up a team with too many players like him because then we start talking about athletic aspects and intensity. Casemiro is a player who now manages himself a bit more. Roma needs someone with stamina.”
Guglielmo Timpano
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