The time of the first verdict. Italian football has just restarted but is already faced with a key point, namely the assignment of the Italian Cup. Naples and Juventus they will compete for it in an unusually empty Olimpico (21 pm), but with the support of millions of fans in front of the TV. The record ratings of the weekend have shown, if there was still a need, how great the Italians' hunger for football is, and what could be better to satiate it than a final between two such fierce rivals?
The Roman night offers many food for thought, starting with the eternal duel between De Laurentiis and Sarri. The two, like any self-respecting broken-up couple, never miss an opportunity to tease each other, even if it is fair to underline how it is always the first to provoke, often without receiving an answer. It was the same on this eve of the Cup, with ADL to dust off the grievances of the past (“he cheated on me with the most vulgar excuse, that of money”) and Maurizio let it go, at least partially. Because in the "I don't care anything about the opponent we will have before us, I only think about winning" pronounced at the press conference, all the desire to "de-Napolise" once and for all is evident, in an attempt to get in tune with a world, the black and white one, who still struggles to accept it.
To make you angry Sarri, if anything, were the questions about this Cup which, hypothetically, could be the first in Italy of his career. “I turn around ic….i when they tell me that I haven't won anything yet – he snapped – I got eight promotionsI understand that it's not much for those who are used to talking about the Champions League and Scudetti, but mine has been a difficult path. My debut results as Juve coach are the best for 50 years, my points average is the highest since 1955 for a rookie: but now I want to turn all of this into something concrete”.
Words that cause discussion and which, we can bet, will backfire like a boomerang in the event of a defeat, especially since it would be the second final lost after that of the Super Cup against Lazio. But the Juventus coach evidently has faith in his players, despite that the match against Milan has shown an athletic condition still to be broken in. It is no coincidence that tonight we will see a modified formation compared to Friday, not in the system (now the 4-3-3 is no longer discussed) but in some men. In defense, in front of the confirmed Buffon, it will go back to the beginning Cuadrado, who will department with Bonucci, De Ligt and Alex Sandro. Changes also in midfield, where the controversial Pjanic (increasingly on the verge of being sold) will leave the control room at betancur, with Khedira and Matuidi interior to support the usual trident Douglas Costa Ronaldo Dybala.
Silent eve instead for Gattuso, who, unlike its president, preferred to remain silent and work in the field. For Rino this is the second Coppa Italia final of his career (as a coach of course), again against Juve: the first one in charge of Milan he lost with a clear 0-4 and this, evidently, could be his revenge . The tension in Naples is very high, as seen from one of the last training sessions: it was a listless Lozano who paid the price, kicked out of the field (like Allan some time ago) for lack of effort. In short, zero tolerance, testifying to how much the trophy is felt and not only for direct access to the next Europa League: a cup on the showcase always has its reason, especially if Juventus are up against you.
The last match in the league saw Gattuso's Azzurri prevail, but the previous one leaves some time, partly because almost 5 months have passed, much because it is reasonable to expect a decidedly more on-point lady. The blue plan for the Cup provides for a 4-3-3 with Meret in goal, Di Lorenzo, Maksimovic, Koulibaly and Mario Rui in defence, Zielinski, Demme and Fabian Ruiz in midfield, Callejon, Mertens and Insigne in attack. The referee of the challenge will be Mr. Doveri from Rome: anything but a detail, in an evening that promises to be as fiery as ever.
