Massimo Orlando spoke on Maracanà on TMW Radio, sharing his thoughts on current football topics.
Orlando’s Analysis
Italy’s Performance Against Germany
“Looking at Italy’s defeat against Germany, it’s a glass half empty. We let Germany dictate the game, dropping back too much. This goes against Spalletti’s football philosophy, but it reflects our current squad’s capabilities. We have a good team, quality in midfield, but we lack that quality upfront. We don’t have a player like Musiala, and in modern football, without certain players, it’s hard to win big. The midfield is a positive, but we lack players who can beat their man.”
Individual Performances and Team Quality
“There were individual errors. Raspadori didn’t capitalize on a couple of potential scoring chances. Donnarumma could have done better too. But the core issue is the lack of quality upfront. We are missing a player with Musiala’s quality, and I don’t see similar characteristics in young Italian players either.”
Spalletti’s Experimentation
“The framework is there, both in defense and midfield. Yesterday, Buongiorno could have played centrally, and Bastoni in his natural role, where he performs better, even though he has played centrally before. These are experiments worth trying. My concern is the attack. The last player who made a real difference upfront was Chiesa at the victorious European Championship. Others like Immobile, Zaniolo, Berardi, and Insigne provided quality but haven’t been game-changers. I’m worried about the attacking phase, but otherwise, I think a good Italy team is emerging.”
Milan’s Regret Over Tonali
“Milan definitely misses a player like Tonali, a great midfielder who provides balance. He is the big regret for Milan fans. He organized the midfield and connected all departments. Considering Milan’s spending to build the team, they should have kept Tonali. If you aim to return to top levels, you don’t get rid of Tonali. You don’t let go of a player who is a fan, loves the shirt, and left in tears. He was a leader, makes a difference, and letting him go was absolutely the wrong decision.”
Juventus’ Difficulties and Coaching Situation
“What’s the point of a caretaker manager for Juventus? Unless they have the possibility to work for next season too, then a profile like Mancini might consider it. No important name would accept a situation where there’s everything to lose and nothing to gain. After the Fiorentina game, Giuntoli spoke to the team in the locker room. It was reiterated at the training restart, and I believe from now on, Motta will decide the lineup with Giuntoli’s guidance. Players like Conceicao, Yildiz, Cambiaso, and Gatti cannot be on the bench. If I were the Juventus president, I would have sacked Motta right after the Fiorentina game. From now on, the club will intervene to help the coach, even in player selection. I believe the story between Thiago Motta and Juve is over.”