Rafa Benitez interview: “Inter-Napoli? Chivu favorite, but Conte finds solutions”

There is the past that returns on a night that tastes like him: and looking at the Acropolis, savoring history, trying to add something of his own to the heritage of Panathinaikos, Rafa Benitez rereads himself, his life and finds a lot of Inter-Napoli in it. Benitez’s Italy is collected in two and a half years, enough to make him loved and in the room of memories – which would then be the one of trophies – there are enough Italian Cups and Super Cups and Club World Cups that mean emotions. Inter-Napoli is not just any match, not even for those who have played many, but this one can legitimately feel like it too. Tomorrow evening he has equally serious championship commitments and therefore will not see the match. “We play and chase that continuity of results that must help us improve. Panathinaikos is a prestigious club and here I have found a place to further develop my curiosity. I am happy with this choice and I hope to be able to build something that lasts over time. Bread there is no lack of desire to regain possession of one’s role, aware of the difficulties and competition”.

100 million question: who is the favorite at San Siro?

“The ranking and the field factor would dictate that Inter are the champions, but Napoli are Italian champions and this would remove us from the embarrassment of choosing. However, one thing can be said: Chivu arrives at the match better, if only for having a 4 point advantage and for having made a clear progress recently.”

Conte will show up at San Siro without almost half the team.

“And this is a factor. De Bruyne, Anguissa, Lukaku and also Gilmour are high values, Neres is at high risk: but a coach knows how to deal with certain situations at the limit and someone who has won as much as Conte has elements to put his hands on, as he has shown in these two years.”

Benitez observes, studies, tries not to miss anything about our championship too: what did you get from this challenge?

“That Inter and Napoli are once again the protagonists, as has been happening for about five years now, with Milan. In this period, not even a short one, two championships each represent the testimony of what has been achieved by Marotta and De Laurentiis, by the managers, by the players and I would say absolutely by the environments. And it does not seem a coincidence that Milan, now second, are the only ones who have broken this recent dominance. Having added Allegri, after the misadventures of last season, was a guarantee. But too many points lost – and it also happened with Genoa – become a problem.”

It’s a championship for two, three, how many?

“It’s very early to go too far. Juventus with Spalletti has found the way; Roma has Gasperini – and Ranieri who occupies a top role – and is in the group, with that football that is growing. There is an entire group missing, there are important recoveries to deal with and in a little while the Champions League will return which will end up having an impact. However, Inter are slightly better: we need to see how they will be managed at the end of January, when the many close matches they might lose a little something.”

What will be decided at the Meazza?

“Definitely, nothing, even if the current distance between Inter and Napoli suggests that a victory for Chivu could exclude Conte. For me, it would simply push him away: to possibly recover seven points, two draws by those in front and two successes by those behind may be enough. It won’t be decisive but it will be heavy.”

Does the 3-1 in the first leg count?

“Less than nothing. They were other teams, completely different. They played football which was then modified due to natural interventions or not: Napoli had De Bruyne and Anguissa, they could choose. Inter themselves presented themselves with hierarchies which then changed. I’m thinking of Zielinski, to name one, who became the protagonist in this phase in which his talent took over the scene.”

The stars will direct it, in which area?

“They will have an impact, but no team can ignore the organization. Napoli slowed down against Verona, but had just underlined, between the Super Cup and certain successes like the one against Lazio, their authority. And Inter, who have put together six victories in a row in the league and are up there in the standings, reaffirm their power. And in any case, there are leaders: the usual ones, one would say, Lautaro Martinez and Thuram, Calha and Barella, now also Zielinski on the side Inter player; and on the other side Lobotka and McTominay, Hojlund”.

The risks seem to belong mainly to Napoli.

“For an arithmetic question, of course: a defeat would possibly put you in a less comfortable situation. But I insist on the time available to recover, on the possibility that some returning players could then help Conte and give him solutions. I find it hard to think that in the first return match a strong team like this Napoli could be completely out of the fight and I believe these are also the beliefs of Chivu and Conte. And here no one wants to lose a match of this level.”