Matrix: 'Napoli have a Coach now'

By Football Italia staff

Marco Materazzi continues his feud with Rafa Benitez. “Napoli are frightening opponents now they actually have a Coach.”

Inter go head-to-head with second-placed Napoli on Monday night and ex-Nerazzurri defender Matrix can’t wait.

“At this moment Napoli are frightening opponents, as they are organised, all run for the team and have Gonzalo Higuain, one of the five best strikers in the world,” Materazzi told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“The main difference is that Napoli actually have a Coach now. On Saturday I was watching El Clasico and I felt like Cristiano Ronaldo, Steven Gerrard, John Terry and Paolo Cannavaro. All players with a strong character who never got on with that one.”

Benitez’s position at Real Madrid is now shaky after a 4-0 home defeat to Barcelona, while he lasted only six months at Inter after replacing Jose Mourinho.

“I still think Inter will win against Napoli, with Roberto Mancini using a three-man defence and Jeison Murillo’s pace not allowing Higuain to run into space. Other sides might be more attacking, but they aren’t as solid.

“Adem Ljajic and Ivan Perisic have learned to sacrifice personal glory for the squad and that is a fundamental stepping stone.

“It will require the perfect performance, because Napoli are a well-oiled machine. So far they’ve played the reserves in the Europa League, but when the knockout stages begin they’ll be spread a little thin. Inter not being in Europe can therefore be an enormous advantage.

“Fiorentina and Roma are playing well, but I don’t think the Viola will keep up this tempo until May. The Giallorossi are a complete squad, but we have to see if the atmosphere around them will allow them to achieve the big prize.

“Juventus are already getting back into the title race, but I don’t think they’ll win the Scudetto. Milan will enter the Europa League. Sinisa Mihajlovic is very good, but if you don’t have quality in the squad, there’s little you can do.”

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