Benitez: Italy Aren't Short of Talent — They've Forgotten How to Defend
Benitez: Italy's Crisis Is Not About Talent
Rafa Benitez has pushed back on the idea that Italian football is short of quality, arguing instead that the country has lost the defensive foundation that once made it dominant. The former Inter, Napoli and Liverpool coach spoke to Gazzetta after a bruising midweek in Europe for Serie A clubs — four defeats from four Champions League matches, followed by wins for Juventus, Milan and Atalanta in the Europa League and Conference League.
Asked whether those results prove Italian football has still not emerged from crisis, Benitez was blunt about the scale of the problem but specific about where it lies.
"It is struggling, as shown by the three World Cups Italy have missed, but there are different issues to address," he replied. "On the one hand, there are the clubs, their decisions and investments. On the other hand, there are the national team, the youth system, and the available talent, which I don't believe is lacking."
No Baggio, But Plenty of Stature
While conceding that the current generation lacks the iconic attacking figures of the past, Benitez argued the cupboard is far from bare.
"There may not be Baggio, Del Piero, Totti or Vieri, but there are players of real stature and considerable quality."
The bigger issue, he says, is defensive. Benitez aligned himself with Massimiliano Allegri and Fabio Capello, both of whom have argued that Italian teams have lost their ability to defend — the hallmark of a footballing culture that held sway for decades.
"Italy have lost the ability to defend, one of the hallmarks of a footballing culture that was dominant for a long time. They also have top-class players at the back: Donnarumma is perhaps the best goalkeeper in the world, Calafiori is an Arsenal starter, Bastoni is a cornerstone at Inter, and Dimarco is a wing-back who can hurt opponents when he pushes forward."
A Temporary Short Circuit?
Benitez was also measured on the question of Serie A's competitiveness, suggesting the gap between the division's leading sides is a fleeting imbalance rather than a structural collapse.
"In extreme cases, you can certainly say that Roma, Inter, Napoli, and Como are built around different parameters. To me, it seems like a temporary short circuit, but the Champions League returns on Tuesday and Wednesday, so we'll have answers quickly."
Man-to-Man, and the Cost of Losing the First Duel
The Spaniard's prescription for a revival is twofold: trust youth, and restore balance. He pointed to the tactical shift that followed the 2019 rule change allowing teams to restart play from inside their own penalty area, which he says pushed sides towards high pressing and man-to-man marking when defending.
"That is what happened with Mbappé's goal [against Roma]: one individual error, with no cover, leads directly to a chance. Today, teams defend man-to-man, which results in a counterattack every time the initial press is beaten."
His conclusion was simple enough to be printed on a dressing-room wall: "Focus on young players and a balanced style of play."