The owner of Inter Milan was full of respect for Roy Hodgson and his achievements, and went on to commend Cesare Prandelli’s performance as the Azzurri head coach.
The oil baron is never shy of making it to the news and the persistent bashing of Roy Hodgson in the Italian media has gotten to him, and he has stated that all the criticism does not make any sense to him.
Fabio Capello stepped down from the post of England manager, after a falling out with the English Football Association. The falling out was caused after the FA stripped John Terry off his captaincy without taking into consideration the verdict of the Italian
on the matter.
Capello’s absence in the English set up has been taken as a huge plus by the Italian pundits and media gurus, who have stated that England would be posing a lesser threat in his absence.
The awe in which the Italians consider the former Juventus manager is understandable, as he has had a long, illustrious and successful career, and most of his success has come in Italy.
Moratti was visibly tired of all the people suggesting that England would be in any way a less inferior opposition in his absence, and felt it was being disrespectful to the Croydon-born English manager.
Moratti has had the chance of working with the Englishman and took the time to give his opinion on the man, and mentioned:
"Let me say that I admire Capello a lot. But I do not think that with Hodgson England are in trouble. They got seven points in their group, the same as Spain - only Germany got more. I always liked him for his loyalty, his culture and his education," the
oil tycoon revealed. "Unfortunately, in our country, he has not been sufficiently appreciated.”
The Beneamata supremo was of the opinion that their opposition are stronger if individual comparisons between the two sides are made, but had faith in the abilities of Cesare Prandelli, and went on to comment:
"I shall trust in [Azzurri boss Cesare] Prandelli, who is prudent person and will prepare for the game without listening to the TV. “
Italy will be playing without their reliable centre-back, Giorgio Chiellini, who is recovering from the thigh strain he picked in the game against the Republic of Ireland.