Twelve championships, 3 Italian Cups, 1 Champions League, 1 Uefa Cup, 1 Intercontinental Cup, 1 European Super Cup, 4 Italian Super Cups, two top scorer titles in Serie A and a World Cup close twice, the first physically (Argentina 78), the second morally (Spain 82, missed only because of the famous injury against Anderlecht). Roberto Bettega's curriculum is simply frightening, so much so that adding up all that he has won as a player and manager of Juventus requires a fair amount of work. Ruthless bomber on the field, gentleman off: "Bobby-gol" loves football in all its facets and you can tell by the enthusiastic way in which he agrees to talk about it, sparing no judgments or adding useless filters.
Bettega, let's start with the national team: what a struggle this double round with Macedonia and Albania ...
“The only positive thing is the qualification for the playoffs, for the rest it really can't be said that Italy was exciting. Ventura is relying on a form that doesn't convince me, you can't think of trying something as complex as the 4-2-4 without having the time to work on it. However, I don't think it's right to point the finger only at him: the human material is lower than in the past and this is due to the neglect of the youth sectors and the excessive flow of foreigners. The crisis of the national team exists but it can't be explained with just one component, it's a 360° problem".
Now we have the playoffs: how much could the draw count?
“Not much at this point, also because we ended up in the first bracket. However, I don't think that the opponent influences our approach, if that were the case it would be very serious. A World Cup is being played here and when the stakes are so important it doesn't matter who you're up against. We have to believe in it and bring out the best regardless."
In the meantime, however, we can "console ourselves" with the championship, ready to resume after the break. By the way, do you think that Juve are still the favorites as Sarri says or that Napoli can really annoy you?
“Here you have to understand me, mine is a personal and professional deformation (laughs, ed). Seriously, Juve have a duty to consider themselves favourites. You have more experience and I'm not just talking about the last 6 years but also historically, you also have a wider squad and let's not underestimate the fact that Napoli also play in the Champions League. I'm not saying that the Scudetto has already been awarded but the Bianconeri certainly start up front."
This weekend will give us some of the best games in the league. Let's start with Juventus-Lazio.
“Lazio is a team in great shape, they are having an excellent moment and can come and play for it. In my opinion, however, everything always depends on Juve, if he faces the commitment in the best possible way and doesn't think about the Champions League, I don't think he'll be wrong, moreover, they play at the Stadium and that always has its weight. In short, if Juve wins, Juve wins”.
And Rome-Naples instead? Here making a prediction becomes more complicated.
“Very balanced game, pretty tough. Two teams that develop the offensive phase better than the defensive one face each other, Napoli is going through a euphoric moment in terms of physical condition and results, but Roma too have good potential. Usually races like this are decided on the episodes, they are the ones who upset the balance".
Could this also apply to the Milan derby or do you think there is already a favourite?
“If we look at the psychological aspect, I'd say Inter, it's true that they haven't shone so far but they've scored a lot of points and can take the field more serene. On the other hand, it is undeniable that Milan have much more to lose, for him this derby counts much more. Let's see if the Nerazzurri's pragmatism or the Rossoneri's desire for redemption wins."
But how do you explain the crisis of this Milan? Is the problem Montella or here too, as with the national team, are there multiple causes?
“The situation is quite complicated and I think it all starts from the club. It has not yet been understood whether the current owner will remain the same in the future or if the club will end up in the hands of the Elliot Fund, this cannot but affect day-to-day stability. And then there is a lot of chaos around Montella as well, it has been questioned from many quarters, not least Berlusconi who always has his weight. However, he too has put his own into it with the removal of the athletic trainer, if he loses the derby there's trouble. Who knows what could happen…”.
We close with the Var, the big news of this championship. Criticism is divided: there are those who consider it a splendid novelty and those who really don't want to accept it. Roberto Bettega which side is he on?
“I start by saying that being among the countries that experience it first could only create discussions, but I like it. Of course, we still need to understand how to make the best use of it and we understood that he cannot avoid all refereeing mistakes, but in these first 7 days he has already canceled several. I think it can be good for football and that we will have to take the good it can bring us."
