A big part of the Italian media may have huge respect for Roberto De Zerbi, often highlighting his job done at Brighton & Hove Albion and wondering whether he’s ready for a big job, but that’s not the case for everyone.
With the Seagulls’ boss being linked to AC Milan, we get to see former England manager Fabio Capello being a little harsh on that possibly.
Speaking to Sky Sport, quoted by Calcio Mercato, Capello claims De Zerbi isn’t at the level most people think, as the Brighton boss doesn’t have big achievements yet.
“I would put De Zerbi in the third tier. There is a lot of talk about him as one of the top coaches because Guardiola backs him, but this year he is tenth or eleventh in the table. What has he won in his career? Let’s look at his CV: he has only won one cup in Ukraine.”
Calcio Mercato also brings some other quotes from Capello about De Zerbi, those being made in an interview with Gazzetta Dello Sport last week. At that time, the 77-year-old also mentioned Pep Guardiola.
“He’s a well-prepared coach, who puts his ideas forward wherever he coaches and has a respectable sponsor like Guardiola. So far, however, no one has come forward despite his name being mentioned on the benches of big clubs. And then with Brighton he has a €15m clause: honestly it seems too much to release a coach.”
With Capello having a very respected career in Italy, it remains to be seen whether his comments in the local media will actually have some impact on Milan’s decision to go for De Zerbi. The Brighton coach has never managed a big Serie A club, and that possibility may be a way for him to prove himself to his compatriots.
