‘These matches are decisive’: Fabio Capello says AC Milan are entering critical period in Scudetto race

Fabio Capello believes AC Milan’s next two games could have a defining influence on the Rossoneri’s hopes of staying in touch with Internazionale in the Serie A title race.

Milan trail league leaders Inter by three points ahead of Sunday night’s visit to fourth-placed Roma, following which Massimiliano Allegri’s side travel to face Bologna, currently in eighth, at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on Tuesday week.

Capello, who won four Scudetti and the Champions League across two trophy-laden spells with Milan in the 1990s, believes the club’s testing schedule will offer a litmus test of their title aspirations, particularly with Inter facing a less onerous run over the same period. 

Fabio Capello: ‘There is a risk of AC Milan losing ground’

“The trips to the Olimpico and then to Bologna will really tell us where Milan are, especially because those games come when Inter are playing against Pisa and Cremonese,” Capello, 79, told Gazzetta dello Sport. “There is a risk of losing ground there. 

“That’s why I think these matches are decisive. Milan have to stay there, one game away. It will be a good Champions League challenge against [Roma head coach Gian Piero] Gasperini. 

“Roma, with [Netherlands forward Donyell] Malen, has added danger to its attack. But if the Rossoneri were to win in the capital as well, it would be difficult to hide away from the Scudetto.”

Malen, who arrived in Rome last week from Aston Villa on an initial loan with an obligation to buy, marked his Serie A debut last weekend with the opening goal in a 2-0 win over Torino. 

However, it is Milan’s attack that is of greater concern to Capello. While Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leão have shouldered the goalscoring burden for the Rossoneri this term, neither was born for the role. 

Capello: ‘Pulisic and Leão are not Martínez’

“They are forwards who like to mix it up, drop back or spread out to receive the ball and create,” said Capello. “Pulisic knows how to move a bit better in the area, but Leão is learning now. Neither of them are [Internazionale forward] Lautaro [Martínez], though, and that shows.” 

Capello, who has been critical of Pulisic’s decision-making in front of goal, welcomes the addition of Niclas Füllkrug, signed on loan from West Ham earlier this month, to Milan’s forward line.

“He’s a true nine, who knows how to take advantage of the slightest slip-up at the back,” Capello said of the Germany international, who scored the winner against Lecce last weekend.

While Milan’s forward line be further bolstered by the return of Santiago Giménez in the weeks ahead, Allegri has consistently played down talk of a title challenge, insisting that Champions League qualification remains the priority. 

“We are half way to the target we have set ourselves,” Allegri said after the Lecce win. “When we mathematically guarantee a place in the top four, I will look further. But right now, 74 points are needed to qualify for the Champions League, and Inter in their current form will get 86 to 88. It is just mathematics.” 

‘Allegri will be doing the calculations’

Capello counters that, whatever Allegri may tell the rest of the world, he will be all too aware of the opportunity that lies before Milan. 

“It’s normal for Max to play hide and seek,” said Capello. “He’s too experienced to not know the risks of saying the word ‘Scudetto’ out loud in public. Once you climb so high, if you stop flying, the fall can hurt even more. And so he sits and talks about tables, but he’ll be doing the calculations.”

The first of those calculations will involve adding three points against Roma on Sunday evening.