It has been a tough ten days for Italian football managers with Fabio Cappello supervising another defeat of England at the hands of France at Wembley, Giovanni Trapattoni fielding an un-imaginative side in the friendly against Norway - also losing – and Roberto Mancini facing criticism as he headed into the encounter with Fulham at Craven cottage – under pressure to deliver. Not least from his predecessor at the City of Machester Stadium, Mark Hughes – the current manager at Fulham
At Stamford Bridge there is an ominous sense that Carlo Ancelotti may be teetering in his commitment to the club in the wake of the departure of Ray Wilkins and a third consecutive defeat on Saturday. The loss at Birmingham City has added to the sense of drama with the background noise that Wilkins’ departure was outside his control - according to reports.
Only a few weeks ago Chelsea looked favourites to take the Premier League title this season with the Champions League campaign also moving along well. All of a sudden the landscape looks different.
For Capello the ongoing fallout from the summer’s World Cup still hangs over his on-field tactics that saw his team beaten by Germany in Bloemfontein last June. The collapse of what was regarded as England’s best group of players for a generation under the Italian manager has eroded his once unquestioned infallibility. As the media discussions move into another phase the names of possible replacements indicate that the fans are despairing with the Italian at the helm and so he will head into the New Year looking for a win to silence them.
Why exactly there is a sense of surprise is not clear as Capello is one of a group of Italian managers that believe in the defensive formula as the means of dealing with all opponents and live on the counterattack as the method of choice for chasing goals. Perhaps with more technical players in leagues that are played at a slower pace scooping balls over the top for strikers to control on the run – and score - is bread and butter for continental players. However in the speed and haste of the Premier League that efficacy can be lost and England don’t seem to have the players to deliver on the Fabio formula.
Nor are the strictures of the 4-4-2 set up which Capello seems to favour - working.
In the modern game with roving midfielders in the vein of Wesley Sneijder, Mesut Oezil, Rafael Van der Vaart and Gareth Bale the roles are more complex than the aged format of the game that the Italian favours.
At Real Madrid on his two occasions Capello was no different and found that even the creativity of David Beckham on the right side – during his second tenure - was not an option he could live with and refused to play him for a major part of the season. In the end Capello caved in as every time Becks came on as a sub he scored and proved a vital part of the run in 2006/7 season that saw Capello win his second La Liga title at the club.
In the stands however the fans were bored silly with the Capello style - regardless of the new title - as it choked the creative life of the players on the field. So his services were dispensed with and Bernd Schuster replaced him.
For Trapattoni the story is of the same vintage although in fairness he has done what he came to do when selected as the messiah of Irish football following the Steve Staunton era at the helm of the Republic of Ireland. Indeed the Italian narrowly missed out on a place in the 2010 World Cup campaign – which would have vindicated his style of play.
Why people expect him now to become what he never has been – creative and experimental - is of concern as that has never part of his footballing DNA. As good as his record of achievement across Europe is “Il Trap” has never been lauded for promoting the beautiful game. Managers of the Capello and Trapattoni generation only knew the Catenaccio way in the playing days and early coaching career – so end of story.
As late adapters changing their ethos now in the chase for success is wasted time.
The story of Ancelotti though is different and maximising the flow of talent seemed to be his unique strength at AC Milan leading them to winning the Champions League in 2003 and 2007 – even losing a few finals as well along the way. In those teams the names of Paulo Maldini, Kalahdze, Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf, Rui Costa, Andriy Shevchenko, Kaka and Pippo Inzaghi come to mind.
But even in Italy he was not above criticism with that success with the club’s owner, Silvio Berlusconi, at times calling Ancelotti too defensive.
In England at Chelsea he has also shown he is able to manage talent and has already the FA Cup and Premier League title under his belt.
Roberto Mancini is younger again and has moved around as a manager with less emphasis on the defensive formula and more on fitness regimes – for which he is know to be tough – and looking for a certain flair. In the build up to the match against Fulham last weekend Mancini was again facing criticism that he was doing enough at any level.
Now as his team now sit three points off the Premier League summit after their 4- 1 win at Fulham Mancini knows at Manchester City the win is still not enough and so the ride is bound to be a lot bumpier before it gets better.
“Last week I was a stupid manager who was six points behind. Now, I am the ’best manager’ because I am only three points off the top of the league,” shrugged Mancini.
“This is not important. We must continue to work and improve every game, every day. Only that way can we win.
“But if we have a big problem and a big crisis and we are only three points behind United and Chelsea, then we are doing well.
“But, in our minds, we must only think about working.”
“For the game, we played fantastic football. I must thank my players for that.”
Whatever about the Italian managers in the Premier League spare a thought for a Spanish manager in Serie A – where the equivalent of Italian tabloids claim that Rafael Benitez – of Liverpool fame – is one or two games from losing his job following a disappointing run of results.
But then again it was always going to be tough following Jose Mourinho at the club – especially after the club won the treble last season.
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