Carmine Gautieri, coach and former player for clubs including Napoli and Roma, spoke about current Serie A topics.
Regarding Claudio Ranieri`s post-match controversies after Atalanta-Roma concerning VAR management, Gautieri commented: “I believe there`s a lack of consistency. Similar situations receive different decisions in different games. Perhaps there were fewer arguments before, without VAR. Now, with VAR, we need to know how to manage it properly, but it seems to me that nobody has fully grasped it yet, which is why all these controversies arise. Ranieri is someone who never complains; he`s a gentleman even in communication. So, if he said certain things, he evidently felt wronged by the management of this tool which, unfortunately, creates difficulties.”
Ranieri was likely frustrated also because the race for fourth place has become more difficult. Which team will qualify for the Champions League? “It could be anyone,” Gautieri stated. “At the moment, Bologna is slightly behind Juventus, Lazio, and Roma. Having said that, that draw could prove very costly for Roma. There are two matches left, six points available, and anything can happen. It also depends on the mistakes of others: teams chasing or on equal points must win and hope the others slip up. In my opinion, all the teams in contention have equal chances. We saw it with Napoli-Genoa: there are no easy games. The final decision will probably come on the last matchday.”
Napoli missed an opportunity against Genoa, and now Inter is just one point behind. Will this be enough for their fourth Scudetto? “Nobody expected this slip-up from Napoli,” Gautieri commented. “Even if they had won that match, they would still have needed to win their next two against Parma and Cagliari. Obviously, now one point can be decisive. Napoli must aim to win both matches, also because Inter has a tough game against Lazio, but in these circumstances, they rarely make mistakes. I`ve seen Parma: they are a determined team that plays and creates. It will be a physical challenge. The Scudetto will be decided by who wins both of their last two matches. I believe Napoli`s one-point advantage can make a difference, but they must secure six points because Inter is unlikely to slip up. When it seemed the league was decided and Inter was `sportingly dead`, they managed not only to reach the Champions League final but also to re-enter the Scudetto race, showing they are a strong, resilient team capable of overcoming difficult moments. Therefore, Napoli must focus solely on themselves and win their next two games.”
Returning to Napoli-Genoa, Conte was criticized for substituting Raspadori with Billing, a midfielder, reducing the attacking presence. Do you believe it was a mistake, especially given the late equalizer? “If Billing had scored in the 93rd minute, everyone would have praised the move,” Gautieri replied. “I don`t think the substitution itself dictates whether the team drops deeper or not. Often, a midfielder is brought on for more compactness. Conte sees dynamics that we don`t perceive from the outside, but things don`t always go as hoped. Napoli should have closed out that match, they didn`t, and the incident made the difference. Against teams like Genoa, who never give up, this can happen. Genoa plays good football, as I had already pointed out. Napoli had the chance to make it 3-1 but didn`t take it, and then conceded the equalizer. That`s how football works: if you don`t finish games off, you get punished.”
Has Romelu Lukaku, with 34 appearances, 13 goals, and 10 assists, met your expectations? “Yes, he has satisfied me, not just for the numbers but for the work he does for the team,” Gautieri stated. “He`s a player who sacrifices a lot for his teammates, creates space, helps the team push forward, and participates in the defensive phase. He`s a complete forward. Nowadays, players are often judged solely by goals, but I think that`s wrong. Lukaku had an exceptional season. Maybe more goals were expected, but it`s not always easy to be decisive in front of goal. For me, he is a top-level player.”
Conte is increasingly cryptic about his future and doesn`t answer directly. Do you think he will stay at Napoli or is he closer to leaving? “If Conte were to leave, it would be a shame,” Gautieri said. “Napoli has found an excellent coach, and Conte has found an important club with ownership that invests to win – credit must be given to De Laurentiis: he`s a president who spends. If he were to leave, it would be regrettable. Honestly, I don`t know if he will stay or not, but it would certainly be a significant loss. However, the president has always hired high-profile coaches: from Benitez to Sarri, from Ancelotti to Spalletti, even Mazzarri in his second spell, although less fortunate. If Conte were to leave, I`m confident they would still aim for a coach capable of making a difference.”