Nicola Zanini, coach of Dolomiti Bellunesi and former player for Napoli, Juve, and Monza, among others, spoke on `1 Football Club`, a radio program hosted by Luca Cerchione on 1 Station Radio. Here is an excerpt from the interview.
Will Igor Tudor still be the Juventus coach next season?
“He`s doing a good job, and very quickly too. He probably already had clear ideas. This is a team that needed certainties, and he gave them immediately. He is proving to be a very serious and, in my opinion, very capable coach. If he manages to get the team into the Champions League, I really believe he could be confirmed. Giving continuity to the work he`s doing, which I think is excellent, would be a sensible choice.”
So, can we say that Champions League qualification is a prerequisite for Tudor`s renewal?
“I think so. In the end, everything comes down to results. The work he is doing and what he has done in previous years shows that he is a good coach. But you know, in certain clubs, results are what matter. We saw it with Motta, who started well but was sacked when the results declined. In those environments, you need to know before accepting the job: the result is everything.”
What`s your comment on Matteo Politano`s resurgence at Napoli?
“He is very consistent, the most consistent of the Azzurri since the Scudetto year, and he performs well in both phases of the game. In attack, he is often involved in goals, if not with a direct assist, at least with the play before. He is a player who fits well into the current Napoli, but also in past ones. The fact that he has played with so many different coaches shows that he is an element that provides security from all points of view.”
Will Gasperini really leave at the end of the season, as he announced?
“I think so. It seems to me that we have reached the end of a cycle, not so much from the team`s point of view but from the coach`s. It`s a shame for everyone, because Gasperini and Atalanta are an almost inseparable pair. But the fact that he announced it well in advance suggests that it is a definitive decision.”
Where would Gasperini fit in well, if he were to leave Bergamo?
“He is a demanding coach, and I mean that in a positive sense. He needs time and to be fully supported by the club. He demonstrated this in Bergamo. I could see him doing well in a situation like last year`s Napoli, in a rebuilding context. Roma could be a possibility. I think there are many teams that rate him highly. Juve could also be a plausible destination, given that Tudor is now a caretaker and next season will be one of rebuilding, and he would be ready for a place like Turin. He is an intelligent coach. In Genoa he played one way, at Atalanta another. He is very adaptable. I think he can easily coach important clubs like Juve. And he deserves it, even if it didn`t go well at Inter: probably it wasn`t the right time. Now it could be.”
Staying with top Italian coaches, there is also a lot of talk about Antonio Conte`s future. He himself leaves a veil of mystery over his future, despite having a contract with Napoli. Do you think there is really a possibility that he will leave?
“I wouldn`t understand the reason. He is doing a great job and I think the best thing for him is to continue. Giving continuity to a project is always positive. Napoli has an important end to the season ahead. I don`t want to say too much, for superstition, but they can really have a say in the league. The mental and environmental rebuilding that Conte has carried out has been excellent. There have been no immediate peaks, but serious work has been done. He was also fortunate not to have too many midweek commitments, but this was known from the beginning. In essence, I say that he has done too well in this initial phase of the cycle to leave. Today we see great coaches in top European clubs staying for five or six years. When you embrace a project, it is important to give continuity and also work at a managerial level, as Conte is doing. Changing coaches every year complicates everything. I believe that the future lies in stability.”
Billy Gilmour played a great game again yesterday. Do you think he is ready to replace Lobotka, should he leave?
“Yes, I agree: he was phenomenal again yesterday. He has shown remarkable growth. For the characteristics of Conte`s game, he is perfect. He is a player who can take charge of the midfield. Of course, losing someone like Lobotka would be a blow, but Gilmour has made an excellent impression on me too. He is growing and could be ready.”
You also played for Monza. Looking at the next match, what pitfalls could a team that is practically already relegated pose for Napoli?
“Even if only mathematical confirmation is missing, these are always tricky matches. Napoli will have to go to Monza aware of their strength and make things clear from the start. Relegated teams play without pressure and with the pride of showing off. It may seem like a fragile castle, but you have to face these matches to the fullest.”
Inconsistent performances for Lukaku, but when he`s fit he`s devastating. Perhaps his summer preparation, which started late, had an influence?
“Yes, he definitely should have been signed earlier. If you start poorly physically, then the psychological aspect also comes into play. And in my opinion, the fact of not having a real substitute also weighed heavily: he often played even when not at his best. He kind of dragged himself along. But when he`s fit, like last night, he`s devastating. You could see it: he opens up the game, distributes well, and is decisive. McTominay`s first goal is practically all his merit.”