Capello Diagnoses Italian Soccer's Problem: Blames "Guardiolism"

Fabio Capello Identifies Key Issues in Italian Soccer

The renowned designer Brunello Cucinelli’s factory served as the venue for the Golden Boy 2026 award presentation, where notable figures such as Fabio Capello and Adriano Galliani were in attendance. However, the event was overshadowed by concerns over the state of Italian soccer, which will miss the World Cup for the third consecutive time. The absence of success has left a bitter taste.

Capello, a former Italy coach, offered his insights and potential solutions. “Young players need to train with older ones as it helps them adapt quickly and progress,” he explained. “If they don’t join the first team, there is no advancement. This is what I did in all my clubs. I remember De Rossi and Aquilani in Roma. Aquilani was better as a young player, but he got scared in his first match. De Rossi, on the other hand, was completely different.”

Modern Trends and Guardiola's Influence Criticized

Capello also criticized modern trends and the lack of courage among coaches. “Not just in Italy, but in the Premier League as well, there is a fear of throwing young players into the fire,” he said. “Coaches don’t see that young players can bring something good. Often, they don’t even know or watch them. After one mistake, they’re not put back into the game. Barcelona had the courage to introduce many young players who were nurtured with a specific culture.”

For the lack of quality defenders, for which Italy was once renowned, Capello blamed “Guardiolism,” the influence of Pep Guardiola’s style. “This has changed soccer as goalkeepers now need to play and defenders must handle the ball like midfielders. Due to ‘Guardiolism,’ Italy no longer produces defenders like before,” he stated. “In Italy, there is a lack of technique, and the ball doesn’t flow as it does in Spain, England, or Germany.”

“There they train technique and speed, not tactics. Tactics come later when you’re already a professional. It’s a mistake to focus on tactics instead of technique and speed, as is done in other countries,” he added. For the Champions League final, Capello predicted PSG as the clear favorite, stating, “I don’t see an uncertain match. PSG is organized, fast, and effective. I don’t expect drama; PSG is the obvious favorite.”