15 hours ago
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Marcos Cafu believes that AC Milan must take advantage of not having European football now if they are to compete for the title.
It feels a bit early to dream with just 12 games of the season gone, but Cafu can look at the Serie A table with a smile on his face. Roma and Milan are the top two, two sides that he played for in his illustrious career, and experienced the joy of winning the Scudetto with each.
Gian Piero Gasperini and Massimiliano Allegri have only been at work for a few months but their stamp on their respective sides is evident. The Rossoneri’s most recent triumph was a 1-0 derby win over Inter, and – having beaten Roma by the same score – they have made a habit of winning six-pointers.
Cafu gave an interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport in which he spoke at length about how his two old clubs are doing so far this season, with a potential Scudetto battle brewing.
Are you surprised by Roma?
“No, because in football even the unlikely becomes possible. And predictions exist precisely to be proven wrong.”
Did you expect them to compete for first place?
“Look, Roma are often underestimated . And if you look at the numbers, especially those for 2025, you realise the strength and consistency of the team. It’s also true that Serie A is long and full of pitfalls, and that applies to everyone. But, as they say in Italy, a good start is half the job done.”
The standings at the top are very tight, with five teams within three points of each other. Who’s the favourite for the title?
“I don’t know, it’s hard to say right now. It’ll definitely be a great battle, and I don’t think it’ll be a two-horse race this time. The Scudetto will be fought out between several teams until the very end.
|”I’d certainly be delighted if Roma won it, especially for the fans. They deserve it, it’s their right; it still gives me chills when I see them singing the national anthem.”
According to Gasperini, Roma have turned a corner. Where is the team particularly strong, and where do they need to improve?
“Gasperini has done a great job in a very short time, achieving excellent results right away. But the team can still improve, especially since they’ve had to deal with so many injuries so far.
“I’m convinced that Gasperini represents the real added value. Although he’s never coached me, for me he’s Zeman 2.0, someone who works hard on the physical and psychological aspects. Have you seen how aggressively Roma’s players attack their opponents? That’s a signature of his.”
Are the fans right to dream of the Scudetto?
“In Italy, and especially in Rome, this is a word that should never be used out of superstition. Let’s just say, as Gasperini also said, no one can deny people the right to dream.”
How far can Milan go without European football?
“Milan have this advantage, it’s true, but they have to exploit it now because – and I don’t wish this on anyone – a team could be eliminated from Europe and then the values would rebalance.”
English (US) ·