Fabio Capello is correct in his evaluation of the circumstances of what happened here, I saw it in much the same way. It came down to a clash of philosophy going forward. His thoughts echo my own sentiments exactly.
Regarding Pirlo did I think he was a good choice ? no. I do however understand why they put him forward as an option because his approach represented a different direction to what Italy had tried so often or were comfortable with.
And in order to regenerate the Italian national team some radical thinking was necessary in order to initiate genuine change. Should they have had other alternatives ? Yes they should have. Options are always valuable.
However the better options who could fit the new philosophy or approach are all under contract at clubs.
It is a shame one of De Zerbi or Gasperini weren’t available as they would have fit the new philosophy and would have offered greater confidence in such a proposed change in approach.
It wasn’t to be, let’s see how Mancini, Ranieri and Zola get on in the roles.
Also not that it matters, but Pirlo's reputation as a coach is quite unfair...
He took over a Juve team by surprise (hired to coach the U23s, promoted to the 1st team 9 days later), and thats just a bad situation for anyone coming in after the firing of a successful coach. But after that, he took a Juve team that had 83 points the previous season and got 78 points, the following season after he'd left they ended up with 70. He also won the Supercoppa and the Coppa.
Then he went to Turkey, took a team that finished 8th the season before and got them to 7th (albeit with 6 less points, but 11 more than the next season).
At Samp, he took a recently relegated team (which is always a tricky situation) and did totally fine in the first year, finished 7th (would have been 6th without a 2 point deduction for not paying taxes), comfortably in the promotion playoffs. That didn't go well, but should note that if not for the 2 point penalty, they would have been the home side and who knows if that changes anything. The next season started poorly and he got sacked after 3 games, but the team was truly terrible, didn't improve after he was fired, or after his successor was fired, or after his successor's successor was fired.
He's done well in his most recent job, but I don't think the UAE 2nd division is a meaningful data point.
What I'm saying though is that there is the idea that Pirlo is just this utterly dogshit coach, and its just not backed up by results.
Not saying he should have been the choice, but like I've said before, the international game is so different from the club game its not uncommon to see coaches that were mediocre at club level become great international coaches, and an international legend with a vision for change really isn't that bizarre of a candidate imo.
resta please
