Rafa Benitez analyzes crisis in Italian football and Serie A

Former Inter and Napoli manager Rafa Benitez has analyzed the current difficulties facing Italian football clubs in European competitions. Discussing recent performances in the Champions League, Benitez noted the surprising struggles of Inter Milan and the unexpected manner in which Napoli transitioned from a potential victory to a defeat.

Regarding AS Roma, Benitez observed that while their loss to Real Madrid was expected, the team showed tactical superiority in certain phases, only to be undone by set-piece vulnerabilities. He highlighted a broader trend shared by coaches like Allegri and Capello: Italian football appears to have lost its historical defensive identity, despite possessing high-quality players such as Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alessandro Bastoni, and Federico Dimarco.

Benitez also addressed the systemic crisis within the Italian football movement, citing the national team's failure to qualify for three World Cups. He suggested that Serie A may currently lack the competitive intensity required to prepare players for the highest levels of European football, describing the current situation as a “momentary short circuit.”