Juventus will face Napoli in Serie A. Ahead of the match, Fabio Cannavaro, who played for both clubs, reflected on his career in an exclusive interview with Betsson and discussed the current state of the two teams, their center-backs, and their head coaches.
For Fabio Cannavaro, Juventus versus Napoli has always been a special match. He made his Serie A debut in 1993 in Napoli's 4-3 victory over Juventus. Recalling his debut, Fabio Cannavaro said: "I think that was the most exciting day of my life, because I grew up in Fuorigrotta and had the privilege of playing both outside and inside the old San Paolo stadium."
Speaking about playing for the team he supported, Fabio Cannavaro said: "Not everyone gets to represent their beloved team in Serie A."
Fabio Cannavaro played for both Napoli and Juventus. Discussing the environment and characteristics of the two clubs, he said: "Juventus is a club that focuses on planning and the future. When you arrive there, you realize you only need to concentrate on playing football."
Fabio Cannavaro stated that both clubs have "interpreted football in an excellent way" in recent years. When asked if he might coach one of the teams in the future, he did not rule out the possibility, saying that an ambitious coach always "pursues the highest goals."
Speaking about Napoli center-back Buongiorno and Juventus center-back Gleison, Fabio Cannavaro said: "I really like Buongiorno because he is a true defender. He can sense danger and knows when to accelerate and when to be tough."
Regarding Gleison, Fabio Cannavaro said: "Gleison is the same; they are both excellent players."
However, both have been plagued by injuries. Fabio Cannavaro said: "They both always have a lot of injuries... but they are very important players for Juventus and Napoli."
Speaking about how forwards in modern football have changed, Fabio Cannavaro said that today's strikers, such as Muani and Højlund, are "very hardworking players."
Fabio Cannavaro said: "Football today is faster, more intense, and demands greater physical qualities."
Speaking about the changes in attacking play, Fabio Cannavaro said: "Our generation of players were more like killers in front of goal. Today's forwards focus more on teamwork and also work hard off the ball."
Speaking about the head coaches of Juventus and Napoli, Fabio Cannavaro said: "They are both excellent coaches who have achieved great results over the years. They know Italian football very well, and they know everything around football: how to manage players, and how to deal with journalists and fans." Fabio Cannavaro said that both coaches "are not fixated on one system of play" and can adapt to the players available to them, so the formations the two teams currently use do not mean they rely on only one tactic.
Currently, Juventus and Napoli appear to be chasing leaders Internazionale and Roma. When asked why the two teams have fallen behind, Fabio Cannavaro said: "Napoli certainly suffered from too many injuries at the start of the league season. Juventus made more changes compared to last season, and they couldn't maintain stability."
Speaking about the strengths of Internazionale and Roma, Fabio Cannavaro said: "Gasperini and Cristian Chivu have both been working with their respective teams for some time, so you can see the results of their work this year."