Fabio Capello believes Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma can challenge Inter for the Serie A title after the Giallorossi opened the season with three consecutive victories.
Roma and Inter are the only two Serie A teams to have collected maximum points from the opening three rounds of the season. The early leaders are scheduled to meet at the Stadio Olimpico on September 19 at 6:00 PM local time.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Capello identified Roma as the team best positioned to challenge Cristian Chivu’s Inter.
Capello identifies Roma as Inter’s primary challenger
Roma have carried the momentum established during Gasperini’s first season into the beginning of the new campaign, winning their opening three matches against Fiorentina, Lecce and Atalanta.
“Roma have continued along the same path as last season and are maintaining the same approach, with an important foundation of quality and style of play,” Capello said.
“They have also introduced a new player, Mora, who has already integrated perfectly into the team’s mechanisms. I said it 20 days ago: Roma are indeed Inter’s primary challenger.”
Rodrigo Mora has immediately demonstrated his quality since arriving in the Italian capital, earning Gasperini’s trust during Roma’s perfect start to the season.
Capello praises Roma’s proactive football
Capello believes Roma’s aggressive man-to-man approach and the collective work of Gasperini’s players make the team particularly difficult to contain.
“Roma play man-to-man across the entire pitch and, above all, they have this proactive style in which everyone helps one another,” the former Giallorossi coach explained.
“When you have four or five quality players inside the penalty area who know how to combine in tight spaces, sooner or later something happens. Against Atalanta, the winning goal eventually arrived.”
Roma attempted 39 shots during their dramatic 2-1 victory over Atalanta, with Matias Soulé completing the turnaround in stoppage time.
The performance provided another indication of Roma’s attacking identity under Gasperini, as the team continued pushing forward despite a disallowed goal, two efforts against the woodwork and several saves from Marco Carnesecchi.
Capello compares Gasperini’s Roma with his title-winning team
Capello also reflected on the similarities between the current side and the Roma team he guided to the Scudetto in 2000/01.
“During my first year at Roma, we understood that we were strong, and then we completed the team with Batistuta,” he said. “I remain convinced that you need the players to win.”
The former coach nevertheless warned that Roma must maintain their balance as expectations continue to rise around the club.
“At Roma, it is true that people can quickly go from excitement to depression,” Capello added. “You always need balance and a little composure. Perhaps people recognize those characteristics in both me and Gasperini.”
Roma’s perfect league start has already created renewed optimism, but Gasperini has repeatedly urged his players and supporters to approach the season one match at a time. The upcoming meeting with Inter will provide an early opportunity to evaluate the Giallorossi’s title credentials.
Source: La Gazzetta dello Sport
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