Former Serie A goalkeeper Alberto Fontana, who played for clubs including Napoli, Inter, and Atalanta, recently shared his thoughts on various football topics, including a painful moment from his time at Inter and the current Scudetto race.
Asked if the Scudetto race is already over for Napoli:
“Absolutely not. They still need to remain focused until the very end. However, if you were to listen to a recording from 4-5 months ago, I had already picked Napoli as my favourite for the Scudetto, primarily thanks to the coach. I believe Conte has done a fantastic job. It was already a significant squad, but they needed a leader, someone who truly knew how to guide them. And then, you know, playing on three fronts, even for a very strong and well-equipped team like Inter, becomes complicated to manage in the final month and a half. Inter is paying a bit of the price for their many commitments because in Italy, even against the bottom team, it`s not a walk in the park, and in Europe, they`ve reached the final stages. In other leagues, you can change seven or eight starters and still win; not here. In the long run, you pay for it. That said, there are still three matches left, and nothing is decided yet. But all the foundations for Napoli to achieve an incredible milestone are certainly in place.”
Reflecting on May 5th, the date of the 2002 final-day title loss to Juventus while he was at Inter, and the need to stay grounded:
“That`s very true, it`s still an open wound. In Italian football, you can never take anything for granted. That was an incredible day. Even though many years have passed, it sometimes comes back to mind. For someone like me, who had spent much of his career in provincial teams, it could have been a beautiful day to experience… and instead. It was a bad day for the entire Inter world.”
On what was missing for Inter on that famous May 5th:
“Well, we were playing against Lazio, who hadn`t lost at home that season. It wasn`t an easy match. And we knew perfectly well that Juventus was already winning 2-0 in Udine after just fifteen minutes. Let`s just say that, a few years later, things emerged; sports justice took its course. Nevertheless, you must never take anything for granted in Italian football. This year too, Napoli has their future in their hands, but they haven`t crossed the finish line yet. Certainly, they have a coach on the bench, Antonio Conte, who, due to his attention to detail and motivational skills, rarely gets things wrong. With him, I don`t think such a thing is possible.”
Comparing Napoli`s remaining fixtures, which seem less challenging than Inter`s on paper:
“Yes, theoretically, Napoli`s schedule is better. They have a three-point lead over Inter, and from that perspective, they are in a more favorable position. But, I repeat, the 90 minutes still need to be played, and there`s always the motivation of the opposing teams wanting to perform well against the league leaders. Nothing is guaranteed.”
On the possibility of Antonio Conte leaving Napoli at the end of the season:
“I believe that next year, Napoli must prepare to compete in three competitions. This year, with just one focus, they did very well because they have a strong squad. But to be competitive next year as well, they will need another six or seven players. So, rather than a final decision, for me, Conte`s message is for the future, a request rather than a farewell. I read it like this: if we want to be competitive, this is what is required. Otherwise, rightly so, I`ll look around.”
Asked if a potential Inter victory against Barcelona tomorrow (hypothetical reference) and reaching a final could distract them from the Scudetto race:
“No, on the contrary. It would be a huge emotional stimulus. If you knock out Barcelona, your self-esteem grows exponentially. I don`t think they`ll do too many calculations. There is still time to try and win the Scudetto too. It could be an injection of confidence that helps them believe even more in the miracle of catching Napoli.”
Regarding Alex Meret`s situation, with his contract renewal pending at Napoli:
“I would sign Meret for any team; I`ve always said that. He is a goalkeeper I highly regard. At Napoli, let`s say a full connection has never truly blossomed between him and the fans; I don`t know why, but I would always take him. How will it end? Honestly, I don`t know. From the outside, it`s difficult to get into the details. What is certain is that if he were to win a second Scudetto with a team that wasn`t expected to win it, it would be an enormous achievement, and he would have been the starter in both titles. And what more can you ask for?”