Speaking on “1 Football Club”, a radio program hosted by Luca Cerchione on 1 Station Radio, was Marco Ballotta, coach and former goalkeeper for Lazio and Inter. Below is an excerpt from the interview.
Asked about the Inter vs Paris Saint-Germain Champions League final, Ballotta commented: “I think absolutely nothing worked for Inter. From the very first minute, as soon as the match started, Paris Saint-Germain took control of the game, and unfortunately, Inter didn`t have the right reaction. They conceded almost immediately, then the second goal… They probably didn`t expect such a strong start from the opponents. But I didn`t even see a noteworthy reaction. It should have been clear immediately that PSG wouldn`t let them play out from the back, with Sommer struggling in build-up. Perhaps a different system should have been adopted, playing long balls to the forwards and focusing on second balls, given PSG`s high pressure. Of course, a bad match can happen, but it`s not just a physical issue: the difference was made by the mentality. Inter seemed surprised, caught off guard by PSG`s intensity. Ultimately, the French team`s victory was fully deserved, and a 5-0 scoreline in a final leaves its mark. This result will stay in the minds of the players and also of Simone Inzaghi.”
Regarding Inzaghi, could such a heavy defeat be a stimulus to stay and rebuild, or might it lead him to leave Inter? “It all depends on how Simone experiences it,” Ballotta said. “It could be that after such a defeat, someone feels the need to change. But I don`t think this one match determines everything. Maybe he already had agreements or different thoughts. The right moment to leave becomes clear over time. Certainly, regardless of the coach, Inter`s squad needs to be reviewed and rejuvenated. They have too many older players, and you could see they arrived tired. A change is needed. The final decision will rest with Simone and the club, but much will also depend on what`s going through his head. Nothing is defined yet, but it seems a meeting is scheduled soon.”
In the past, it would have been unthinkable for one of Serie A`s most successful coaches, like Antonio Conte, to reject Juventus. Has the tide changed? Ballotta responded: “Many things are changing in football, especially at the management level. Those who want to do things seriously today look at the club`s prestige, yes, but also – and above all – at the structure and organization. At Juventus, at the moment, there is a lot of confusion. A coach, no matter how good, cannot do everything. Allegri, in the last year, practically covered every role because there was no real club structure behind him. Everyone must do their job: the coach must coach and make technical requests, not manage everything. I believe Conte also asked for guarantees regarding the training center, the pitches, and De Laurentiis made him understand that he would put him in ideal working conditions. Otherwise, with all the things Conte said during the season, this marriage wouldn`t have gone ahead. So, we can say that managerial aspects were decisive in Conte`s choice: on one side, Napoli, which goes straight ahead, and on the other, Juventus, where there is still confusion. In Turin, they still need to fix many things. The managerial figures are not yet well-defined, there is confusion, and everything is still under construction. Conte knows the Juve environment well, but perhaps precisely for this reason, he didn`t feel up to returning to a situation that is not yet consolidated. Now, however, it`s up to De Laurentiis to keep his promises.”
Alex Meret, in his best season since being at Napoli, reached June with a contract expiring in a few days. What do you think Napoli should do with him? Ballotta stated: “Yes, Meret`s contract is expiring. I`ve always defended him, even in the most complicated moments. I`ve always had positive words for him, even when he wasn`t playing much or wasn`t at his best. I think the renewal shouldn`t just be automatic, but almost. Also because finding a stronger goalkeeper or making risky investments isn`t easy. Just look at the case of De Gea, who had an extraordinary season at Fiorentina, but nobody expected it. Meret provides security, he`s still young and growing a lot. He`s improving, gaining experience, and guarantees balance to the defense. I would start with him.”
Are the rumors about Donnarumma moving to Napoli just market speculation or is there something concrete? Ballotta replied: “The transfer market is starting now, so we`ll hear all sorts of things every day. We shouldn`t be surprised. Interest in Donnarumma is possible, anything can happen. But I believe Napoli doesn`t need to change their goalkeeper. Then again, maybe Meret himself wants to leave, and things would change then. However, in general, I think players should only be changed where there is a real need. And in the goalkeeper role, Napoli is covered. Other roles should be strengthened.”