FABIO CAPELLO’S VERDICT: "IF AC MILAN BEAT ROMA, THEY MUST AIM FOR THE SCUDETTO."
Fabio Capello warns AC Milan that, despite their 20-game unbeaten run, they need more "game-changers" to beat Inter to the Scudetto.
Fabio Capello says AC Milan are missing a game-changer like Lautaro Martinez, but if they beat Roma, they should set their sights on the title.
Milan started the 2025-26 season with Massimiliano Allegri back in charge, and after last year’s eighth-place finish, everyone just wanted Champions League football again. So far, they’re doing well—they’ve already built a seven-point gap over fifth place.
But fans aren’t just thinking about fourth anymore. The Rossoneri are only three points off the top, and they haven’t lost in 20 games. That sort of streak hasn’t happened for decades, so now people are starting to believe the Scudetto isn’t out of reach.
Capello talked to La Gazzetta dello Sport about Milan’s title chances, their strikers, and more.
Allegri keeps saying the goal is just top four…
“That’s just Max being Max. He’s too smart to go around shouting about the scudetto. When you climb this high, if you fall, it hurts more. So he keeps his head down, talks about numbers, and keeps everyone grounded.”
Allegri has now gone 20 league games unbeaten after beating Lecce…
“That’s a huge achievement, and it’s down to his work with the team’s mentality. Milan’s got a strong spirit now—you can see it in the way they come back, even when they’re not playing well or are behind.
“Max has put in a lot of effort there, and the only loss in their last 21 games was that opener against Cremonese. That speaks for itself.”
Against Lecce, Milan dominated the second half: 13 shots to 2, 71% possession. Did the criticism after the Como match help?
“No, trust me, Allegri hears the talk, but he knows the team needs to play better. Look at the first half against Lecce—they weren’t great.
“They moved the ball too slowly, the midfielders couldn’t keep up, and half the time, there was just one Milan player up against three Lecce defenders in the box. That’s not the way to score goals.”
Is that because Pulisic and Leao aren’t true centre-forwards?
“Exactly. They’re attackers who like to drift around, drop deep, or pull wide to create something. Pulisic is a bit better at getting into the box, but Leao’s only just learning. Neither of them is Lautaro—you can tell.”
Leao hasn’t looked like himself lately…
“It was obvious. He couldn’t shift gears. Even when he had space to run, he just matched his defender’s speed. That’s not the Leao we know.”
Then Allegri brought in Füllkrug…
“A real number nine. He senses the tiniest defensive mistake and takes advantage, just like he did for the goal. But honestly, the real spark was Rabiot again. He raised his level in the second half.”
Will we see Milan play with a front three soon?
“That all comes down to who’s fit and available. With five subs now, you can switch things up during the game. And with someone as sharp as Max on the bench, it’s even easier to change the setup on the fly.”
There was a moment, with the score still stuck at 0-0, when Milan lined up with three central defenders. Lecce didn’t even have a proper striker on the field. Isn’t that a bit much?
Allegri said he wanted the two wing-backs to handle preventive marking and ramp up the pressure. Honestly, it’s about time. Milan has this habit of dropping back and letting teams crowd their penalty area, especially against sides they should be bossing. Sometimes you have to push forward and defend by pressing, not just by sitting deep.
Some of the backups looked better against Lecce. Has Jashari finally convinced you?
Yeah, he did better than he has in his last few games. But you know what? As soon as Modric came on, you could just see the difference. That long ball he played to Nkunku was unreal. No comparison.
Modric’s definitely starting on Sunday against Roma, right?
The away games in Rome and then Bologna will really show us what Milan’s made of, especially since Inter gets to play Pisa and Cremonese. If Milan slips up, they risk falling behind. That’s why these matches matter so much—they’ve got to keep pace and stay right in it.
And against Gasperini, it should feel like a Champions League clash. Roma’s attack is scarier now with Malen. Still, if Milan manages to win in Rome, it’ll be hard to pretend they’re not in the Scudetto race.
Roma and Bologna both face Milan after their European matches, while Inter, Napoli, and Juventus are busy too…
Not having to worry about Europe is a real bonus for Allegri. But Inter needs to drop points here and there; otherwise, catching them is a tall order. Chivu, though, has already got plenty in the bank.
ANTONIO CONTE DEMANDS RUTHLESS FINISHING DESPITE NAPOLI’S CRUCIAL ONE ZERO CAGLIARI WIN
Antonio Conte celebrates Napoli's fourth straight win and a rare clean sheet following a 1-0 victory over Cagliari.
After the 1-0 win at Cagliari, Napoli’s manager, Antonio Conte, shared his thoughts with DAZN. He pointed out that getting key players back is important, though he said they must be fully fit. Anguissa and McTominay aren’t quite there yet, while Kevin De Bruyne looked good. Lobotka struggled a bit, and there’s hope that Rrahmani and Di Lorenzo can return to full fitness soon. Conte admitted that competing for the title won’t be easy, especially with players like Neres posing a challenge. He emphasised that Napoli has held steady over seven months, and now the focus shifts to securing Champions League qualification. They’re aware that other teams are chasing the same spot, but there’s no reason to stop pushing forward. Today’s result puts a bit of pressure on the teams ahead.
Regarding the midfield and attacking midfield, Conte said the team made too many mistakes and could have controlled the game better, especially since Cagliari weren’t pressing hard. They pushed for a second goal in the second half, and as always, anything can happen in these tight matches. The three points are valuable, but they remain cautious because it doesn’t take much to be overtaken.
On the importance of keeping a clean sheet, Conte highlighted that after 11 games without one, it was crucial not to concede. Cagliari didn’t manage a single shot on target, showing how well Napoli defended. He praised the commitment and understanding of the players, though he admits the team still struggles a bit with finishing their chances.
At the press conference, Conte expanded on the need for clinical finishing. He noted that going up 2-0 would have eased pressure, as a 1-0 lead is always fragile; a momentary lapse or scramble can let the opponent back in. Still, he expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress, especially given the challenges over the past seven months. With more players returning from injury, Conte has more options to change things up during matches, bringing in fresh energy and quality.
When asked about the double playmaker setup with McTominay and De Bruyne, Conte described it as an ongoing process rather than something new. The midfield lineup can vary, Lobotka alongside Anguissa or McTominay with Gilmour, for example, but the underlying idea remains consistent. He acknowledged that relying on two playmakers might reduce physicality at times, though it improves passing quality. Since November, they’ve stuck with this four-man midfield system because it suits their style and creates problems for opponents.
Conte also expressed satisfaction with the clean sheet, especially as this was their fourth consecutive win ahead of the international break. He recalled the frustration following a loss in Bologna and welcomed the chance to regroup over the next two weeks before facing Milan. Preventing shots on target was a key success today, but there’s still room to improve in finishing. Being more ruthless in front of the goal remains a priority.
LAUTARO MARTINEZ ADMITS DREAM RETURN TO RACING CLUB AMID INTER CONTRACT
Lautaro Martinez reveals his dream to return to Racing Club, while remaining committed to Inter Milan until 2029.
Lautaro Martinez is still the heart of Inter, but you can tell Racing Club is never far from his mind. He left Argentina for Inter back in 2018, but Racing fans haven’t forgotten him; he’s a legend to them. Lautaro even joked that his long-term plan is to “convince” his wife to head back home with him one day.
He’s got deep roots in Argentina. He came up through Racing’s youth system, banged in 27 goals in 62 games, and became a fan favourite before heading to Italy. Now, he’s one of Serie A’s sharpest strikers. He scored 18 goals and had four assists this season, giving Inter a solid lead over AC Milan. Still, no matter how well he’s doing in Italy, that bond with his old club hasn’t faded.
But moving back isn’t just his call; it’s a family thing. Lautaro talked about this during an interview with Racing Radio, joking about how his wife has got used to life in Milan. He said, “Coming back to racing is my dream: I’m working on convincing my wife, and luckily, she supports me. Of course, there’s a bunch to think about – family stuff, how I’ll feel physically. But my dream is to return for at least a year. I just don’t know when.”
He also mentioned how much he wants his kids to experience the racing love for themselves. He’s tied to Inter until 2029 and made it clear he’s committed to the club right now. “I’ve got three more years here at Inter. I want to stay at this level as long as I can. I feel good; I’m still young, but one day, I want my kids to see how much racing means to me and to its fans.”
Lautaro spoke fondly about Diego Milito, Racing’s current president and Inter icon, who’s basically been a mentor since Lautaro started. They talk every week, and when Lautaro got injured, Milito reached out. Lautaro sent his own message of support for Racing, since the club has been struggling lately.
Lautaro also recalled his last visit to Racing’s training ground, where he ran into coach Gustavo Costas. Costas teased him: “Stick around; we’re waiting for you. Come back next year, play in the World Cup, then come home.” Lautaro said the urge to return never goes away. Racing gave him the chance to be who he is now, and he’s never forgotten it.
