Capello: Inter Can Replicate 2010 Success Against Barcelona

Former coach Fabio Capello has drawn parallels between Inter Milan’s current squad and their 2010 Champions League-winning team, suggesting they have what it takes to stop Barcelona’s potent attack in the upcoming semi-final.

Inter secured their place in the Champions League semi-finals after a 4-3 aggregate victory over Bayern Munich. They will now face Barcelona, with the first leg scheduled for April 30 at the Olympic Stadium.

In his column for La Gazzetta dello Sport, Capello acknowledged Barcelona’s formidable attacking trio of Yamal, Raphinha, and Lewandowski. However, he believes Inter’s midfield strength could be the key to neutralizing this threat.

“If the treble-winning Inter stopped Messi, they can also do it today against Yamal,” Capello wrote. He emphasized that Inter’s ability to maintain balance and close down spaces will be crucial in containing Barcelona’s creative players.

Capello highlighted the importance of the midfield battle, pitting Barcelona’s Pedri and De Jong against Inter’s Barella, Calhanoglu, and Mkhitaryan. He expressed a preference for Inter’s midfield, stating, “Few teams in Europe can boast such a well-organized department.”

The former coach’s analysis suggests that if Inter can dominate the midfield and restrict Barcelona’s attacking players, they have a strong chance of progressing to the final, echoing their successful strategy against Messi and Barcelona in their 2010 Champions League campaign.