Capello questions Inzaghi decisions, explains Juventus turning point vs Inter

Fabio Capello (Photo by Jurij Kodrun/Getty Images)

Fabio Capello is sceptical about Simone Inzaghi’s substitutions against Juventus but was impressed by the Bianconeri’s ‘hunger to win’ in the second half.

Juventus beat domestic rivals Inter 1-0 in a meeting at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday and ex-Bianconeri coach Capello did enjoy the match between Bianconeri and Nerazzurri.

“It was like a Coppa Campioni game,” he told Gazzetta.

“Truly a very beautiful game, played at a high pace, with the right dynamism, always vertical and fast. The credit goes to both teams, but personally, I also appreciated referee Mariani’s approach, as he let the game flow without stopping it every two minutes.”

Motta said Juventus respected Inter too much in the first half, and Capello agreed with the Bianconeri coach.

“I believe that in the first 45 minutes, Juventus were a bit intimidated by the reigning Italian champions,” he said.

“The ball felt heavy, and Inter easily found space when they recovered possession and launched counterattacks. But there’s an old rule in football: if you don’t take advantage of your chances, you end up paying for it.

“In the first half, Juve conceded a lot defensively, and Inzaghi’s team had plenty of opportunities, hitting the post with Dumfries and missing at least one or two clear-cut chances with Lautaro. Inter had the game in their hands and must take responsibility for not capitalizing on it.”

Inzaghi replaced Alessandro Bastoni and Federico Dimarco quite early in the second half and Capello disagreed with his decision.

“Maybe, but I would have never substituted Bastoni and Dimarco. Inter created mainly on the right in the first half with Dumfries and Pavard, but their usual strength lies on the left side,” he said.

Capello questions Inzaghi decisions, explains Juventus turning point vs Inter

“Why change that completely? On top of that, the substitutes didn’t seem to provide a real spark. They actually contributed very little.”

Inter captain Lautaro Martinez was furious after the final whistle, especially after wasting a couple of big opportunities.

“In such high-level matches, you can’t afford to waste chances in front of goal,” noted Capello.

“Lautaro didn’t play a bad game outside the penalty area, but the finishing was poor as he made errors even from a purely technical standpoint.”

What was the turning point for Juventus?

“In midfield, during the second half. After suffering Inter’s possession in the early stages, Juve’s midfield picked up the pace and gained confidence, providing more support to the attacking wingers,” said Capello.

“But beyond tactics, what impressed me the most about Juve in the second half was their hunger to win. I hadn’t seen that kind of determination often this season.

“If I see the spirit of the 2023-24 Scudetto in Barella, I don’t see the same grit in some other players. And that’s something that often happens in the season following a major victory.”

Juventus have now reached Lazio in fourth place in Serie A, while Inter remain second two points below leaders Napoli.