Former AC Milan and Real Madrid manager Fabio Capello has urged Italy to follow Jurgen Klopp’s playing style after they failed to reach this year’s World Cup.
The European champions will miss their second World Cup in a row after being beaten 1-0 by North Macedonia on Thursday night. Italy also failed to qualify for the tournament in Russia four years ago.
Aleksandar Trajkovski fired an injury-time winner for North Macedonia to stun the Azzurri at the Stadio Renzo Barbera. And speaking after the game, Capello urged his country to follow the model Klopp uses at Liverpool.
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“Italian football has imitated Guardiola for 15 years,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “There were no vertical passes or physical strength, there is no habit to making challenges. On the other hand, we should follow Jurgen Klopp’s playing style.
“The only ones doing that in Italy are Atalanta and look at their results. Vincenzo Italiano is trying something similar, same as Alexander Blessin at Genoa who is offering even something more than Klopp.
“The German way is the model to follow, we don’t have the technique to look at the Spanish one. There is a high pace in European competition and we are not accustomed to it.
“There are not enough young Italian players, but there is a wrong idea at its base. We are the country of the back pass to the goalkeeper.
“Victor Osimhen, Romelu Lukaku and Tammy Abraham were just normal strikers abroad. They became champions in Italy. This should raise some questions.
“Sometimes, I am surprised to read some stats. ‘That player made 45 passes…’ Ok, but how many were key passes? How many of those passes were useful?”
