Unique Berna, Balo should learn from Zaza | by Cesare Prandelli
I struggle to find any other player with similar features at the moment, even thinking about my experience as a coach. Bernardeschi is a complete modern footballer, good at technical things, but also an aggressive runner. He played very well down the flank at the beginning of the season, improving his defensive phase, but if he plays as offensive midfielder, behind a sole striker, he can step up and become a top-class player.
As far as Inter are concerned, I have to repeat myself. They don’t have a clear style of play and after they had been working to find the right balance in the first months of this campaign, they had to start all the work from the beginning, since when Eder has joined the club.
The former Sampdoria star’s style was totally different at the Marassi. He was left free to run everywhere in the Blucerchiati’s final third and he was more aggressive. His teammates, then, knew his movements and the way he wanted to be serviced, now he’s not in sync with the rest of the team and I have the feeling he doesn’t know how to play as a winger anymore. Mancini repeatedly said that Inter are not Scudetto material, but they’ve been among those few clubs that made some investments in January.
Juve v Napoli, on the other hand, was a bit disappointing. Napoli did not deserve to lose. It was an even game, though very interesting under the tactical point of view. I expected wingers of both clubs to be braver and more offensives. I thought they would have worked to create some kind of numerical advantage on both flanks, but that was not the case. I am not impressed anymore by Simone Zaza’s attitude and spirit. He’s been always having an incredible impact on games, especially when coming off the bench. He has a fire burning inside him and playing for a winning club like Juve is definitely helping his growth.
I did not follow the Miha-Balo saga directly, but the manager’s right when he says that he won’t play anymore who doesn’t work hard. It is unthinkable, in modern football, not to give everything on the pitch, even if you’re playing for just five minutes. Zaza's attitude should be an example for Mario Balotelli.
Translated by Lorenzo Bettoni
