Speaking on `1 Football Club`, a radio program hosted by Luca Cerchione on 1 Station Radio, former sporting director Fabrizio Lucchesi, who has worked with clubs like Roma and Empoli, shared his insights. Below is an excerpt from the interview.
Can the opening of the transfer market in June benefit teams participating in the Club World Cup, like Inter and Juventus, allowing them to make early moves, or does it favor teams like Napoli, which has greater liquidity and could leverage financial year-end considerations?
“I believe that financial availability and clarity of ideas will have a greater impact. Those with clear ideas can gain an advantage and utilize these extra days. Big teams work months in advance; what we see materialize in the summer was planned well beforehand. The Club World Cup certainly obliges you to anticipate certain operations, but in reality, those operations have likely been set up for some time. It will be important to have clear ideas, especially for teams that are about to change coaches. There are two or three important Italian teams in this situation. At that point, technical and tactical organization comes into play, along with tailoring the market based on the desires of the new coach, and that`s where economic resources become fundamental again. So, I think these factors matter more than participation in the Club World Cup.”
In the last four games, where do the biggest challenges lie for Napoli? In Lecce? Or is difficulty a constant, faced game by game?
“Napoli has been so good, Conte and the team have been so good at regaining the top spot, and when there are four games left and you`re in the lead, you have a great opportunity: you are masters of your own destiny. When you`re chasing, you have to hope others slip up, but when you`re ahead, you always have to perform well yourself. There`s the stress of needing to confirm your position. Napoli should think like a cyclist: 200 meters from the finish line, you lower your head and pedal hard, don`t look back at who`s behind you. If you get distracted, you waste energy. Figuratively speaking, that`s what Napoli needs to do: head down and pedal.”
What do you think about the speculation surrounding coach Conte? Do you think he will stay at Napoli?
“No, he won`t stay against his will. Contracts in football only go so far, and Conte commits to a project, not just a contract, partly because he has various tempting offers. There are some things that need sorting out between him and the club, and it will depend heavily on how the season ends. I don`t know what to hope for: certainly winning the league would be the maximum achievement, but I don`t know if that will be enough to keep Conte. If you ask me if he`s 100% staying, I`d say no. We haven`t invented the problems between Antonio and the club; he himself has hinted at them. And indeed, it`s discussed every week. An important coach like him looks at the project, the перспектива (prospect), like all professionals. Today, the problem isn`t where Conte goes, but what kind of team you give him. What kind of investments are you willing to make? You need to plan together. If the coach`s project doesn`t align with the club`s, it`s not about who`s right or wrong. It`s better to clarify things immediately, otherwise, it`s better to stop everything beforehand.”
After the first leg between Barcelona and Inter (presumably referring to a past European fixture contextually, maybe UEL or UCL semi-final based on the period), has your personal prediction been overturned? Ultimately, who do you think will reach the final?
“I would be happy if Inter reached it. I support Italian teams, after all. But I fear Barcelona. Inter gave 100%, even 110% in the first leg, while Barcelona perhaps gave 95%, but they drew. I am afraid, but I truly hope Inter makes it, for Italy.”