‘Courage and recklessness’: Fabio Capello dissects Impressive Juventus Victory

Fabio Capello hailed Juventus’ blend of “courage and recklessness” after 19-year-old Vasilije Adzic settled a seven-goal Derby d’Italia with a 91st-minute strike.

The former Milan and Juventus coach used his column reaction to praise Igor Tudor’s game management, question Inter’s balance, and highlight how the match underlined Juve’s Scudetto credentials.

Capello’s verdict on a chaotic classic

Juventus edged a 4-3 thriller in Turin, a game that swung repeatedly before Adzic decided it from 30 yards. Capello argued the performance showed control without possession can be decisive, noting that Tudor “managed the game very well, with a lot of tactical detail,” and that the old debate over ball retention had resurfaced with Juve creating clear chances despite not dictating the ball.

He was effusive about the match-winner, framing the teenager’s decision to shoot as both audacious and instructive.

“If someone has the courage to come on and shoot like that, we have to wait and see what potential he really has. It was a mixture of courage and recklessness. If he had shot and hit the corner flag, we would all be saying, ‘why did he shoot from 30 yards? Pass the ball!’”

Capello also felt Inter lacked a dribbler to change tempo in tight areas, asking rhetorically who, if not Federico Dimarco, could break lines with speed and power. He suggested the Nerazzurri were short of that single action that unlocks compact blocks, a detail that proved costly as Juventus repeatedly found moments without needing long spells of control.

Questions for Inter, signals from Juve

While acknowledging the quality of Hakan Calhanoglu’s brace, Capello was unimpressed by the overall goalkeeping on both sides, describing errors that amplified the scoreline drama. He judged Lautaro Martinez to be short of his usual sharpness following a long trip, saying the Inter captain looked tired and had “given everything he could” before fading.

The broader takeaway, in Capello’s view, was strategic. Inter, now under Cristian Chivu, “have partly found their team,” yet back-to-back defeats leave them rebuilding confidence on the fly with a Champions League test looming on Tuesday. Juventus, by contrast, can “aim for the Scudetto,” having shown resilience, set-piece threat and the nerve to trust a teenager with the game on the line.

Capello’s critique of Inter included the absence of a consistent one-v-one outlet and a defensive line occasionally exposed by Juventus’ direct surges. For Juve, he highlighted the coherence of Tudor’s plan, the efficiency of chance creation and the calm under pressure that allowed them to survive the final exchanges before striking decisively.

Site Opinion

Capello’s analysis captures the hinge point of the night: Juventus did not need to monopolise the ball to control decisive moments. Adzic’s winner will grab the headlines, but the deeper note is tactical maturity, with Tudor’s structure giving licence to individual expression at the right time. Inter’s issues feel more structural, centred on the lack of a reliable dribbler to unpick organised lines and the physical drop that followed a demanding schedule.

If Chivu cannot add verticality and one-v-one threat quickly, Inter risk living on Calhanoglu’s strikes rather than a repeatable route to chances. Juventus leave with belief and a blueprint, Inter with questions and a short runway to answer them.