Former Milan and Italy coach Arrigo Sacchi asserts that Serie A clubs lack the necessary squad depth, technical and physical quality, and strategic resource management to effectively contend for the Champions League title.
In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, the manager, who famously won two Champions League titles with Milan, suggested that Inter and Napoli should prioritize their domestic league campaign. He warned that fully committing to European competition could jeopardize their Serie A performance.
Sacchi`s Advice: Focus on Serie A
Sacchi specifically advised Napoli and Inter, despite being Italy`s most capable teams for multi-front competition, to concentrate on Serie A. He believes they are not yet prepared to compete equally with Europe`s elite clubs, and pursuing Champions League glory too aggressively might undermine their domestic league aspirations.
He further elaborated that participating in international matches is physically and mentally exhausting for players, increasing the risk of injuries and performance slumps. Competing at a high level three times a week demands a significantly large squad with consistent technical and physical quality, alongside experienced resource management – qualities Sacchi feels both Napoli and Inter currently lack.
Inter`s European Challenges
Inter`s recent Champions League final appearances, including a dominant 5-0 defeat to PSG in the 2024-25 final and a 1-0 loss to Manchester City in June 2023, seemingly reinforce Sacchi`s perspective.
However, Sacchi maintains that Inter`s presence in the final doesn`t alter his fundamental assessment. He acknowledges the counter-argument — that Inter might have fared differently without facing “monsters” like PSG — but asserts that Italian clubs, across the board, still lag behind their European counterparts.
When questioned on how Italian clubs can bridge this gap, Sacchi emphasized that without the financial means to acquire superstar players, their only viable strategy is to focus on developing their fundamental `game` and collective play. He believes this long-term approach will yield the most significant results. He urged Napoli and Inter to dedicate themselves to evolving into more “European” teams, convinced they can achieve this standard by consistently striving for improvement and refusing to settle for less.