Inter Milan, Napoli, Lazio and Fiorentina are able to “take the money and run” — within the phrases of 1 head coach — as they journey to Saudi Arabia for a revamped Italian Super Cup that for some has misplaced relevancy.
The new four-team event in Riyadh copies the Spanish format and sees Serie A champion Napoli play Italian Cup runner-up Fiorentina on Thursday, with Italian Cup winner Inter taking over Serie A runner-up Lazio the next day. The winners of each matches will meet within the remaining on Monday.
“Everyone knows what I think, that this tournament is about anything other than sport,” Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri stated. “You take the money and run. We take all that we can in this short-sighted manner. We go around the world begging for money. With all the problems with crowded fixture lists, we then also set up a four-team Super Cup. If modern football is this type of evolution, then I am glad to be old-fashioned.”
The Super Cup was once a one-off match between the Serie A champion and the Italian Cup winner and was held simply earlier than the brand new season began and a spotlight turned to extra severe issues.
The curtain-raiser historically befell on the house of the Serie A champion and was a pleasant day trip for the followers. But for a lot of the previous decade it has been switched to the winter and performed outdoors Italy, producing cash for Italian soccer however largely ignoring the supporters of the groups concerned.
This season it has been modified to incorporate the runners-up from the Italian league and cup and can be performed within the Saudi capital — simply over every week after the Spanish Super Cup was held in the identical metropolis.
The winner of the brand new event will obtain eight million euros ($8.7 million), whereas 5 million ($5.4 million) will go to the runner-up. The different two groups will every get 1.6 million ($1.74 million).
But all 4 groups have a lot larger ambitions this season — and loads of matches nonetheless to play.
Inter presently leads Serie A however is simply two factors above Juventus and will discover itself trailing when it returns from Riyadh, with the Bianconeri taking part in two matches — towards Lecce and Empoli — earlier than Simone Inzaghi’s staff resumes home motion.
Fiorentina, Lazio and Napoli are additionally vying to qualify for subsequent season’s Champions League in an ever-tightening battle for fourth place in Serie A.
All 4 groups are additionally nonetheless concerned in European competitors. Lazio, Napoli and Inter — final season’s runner-up — have superior to the Champions League spherical of 16, whereas Fiorentina has reached the identical stage of the European Conference League.
Moreover, Lazio and Fiorentina are additionally within the Italian Cup semifinals.
“The Super Cup is a trophy used by a coach to say he won something, it doesn’t help the club to grow,” Sarri stated.
“I would like to win something that helps the club too. Having said all of that, we are going to travel 6,000 kilometers (3,700 miles), so we’ll do our best.”
While Sarri is dismissive of the competitors and the groups can be eager to not overexert their gamers — or worse, lose them to harm — with matches coming thick and quick, others have their eyes extra set on the prize.
Fiorentina has not gained a trophy for greater than 20 years, because it lifted the Italian Cup in 2001.
“It is satisfying for everyone, we are playing for an important trophy alongside three big teams who are more accustomed to this kind of competition,” Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Italiano stated.
“Lazio has won a lot in recent years, Inter too, Napoli is the champion of Italy, so we are really happy to be there … we’re preparing for it with great pride and great joy.”
The Spanish Super Cup has been performed as a four-team mid-season occasion in Saudi Arabia since 2020. Real Madrid beat Barcelona within the remaining of the Spanish competitors in Riyadh on Sunday.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com