Capello: Conte is the best in Italy

Posted Thursday, January 02, 2014 by YAHOO Sport

Fabio Capello has stated that Juventus’ Antonio Conte is the best manager in Italy, and the Russia manager believes the current Bianconeri side is the strongest in years.

Capello won two Serie A titles in his two years at the club between 2004 and 2006, before they were stripped following the Italian match fixing scandal.

Conte has matched this achievement in his first two years after winning back-to-back titles, and with Juventus sitting at the top of the table entering 2014 Capello admitted Conte’s side are better.

“Even if the numbers don’t say this, the current Juventus are stronger than mine were,” said Capello in a Sky interview. “He took a team that was experiencing a great moment and gave them a winning mentality. At the moment he is absolutely the best Italian coach, I've seen what they are winning and why they succeeded in getting these achievements in a short time.”

The Bianconeri’s next league game gives them an opportunity to widen the gap at the top as they take on second -placed Roma on January 6 at the Juventus Stadium.

“It's a very important match. If Rome loses they would go eight points behind and it would be a difficult to retrieve,” Capello said about the fixture. “The Giallorossi is an excellent team, has a fine coach who has very clear ideas and a very strong defense. They are aren’t in cups and must hope Juve drop when they are engaged in Europe.”

Having managed both clubs, Capello also insisted he had no allegiance to either team.

“Who is more in my heart? Both, I had good times at both Turin and Rome,” the 67 year-old said. “With the Giallorossi I won a league title that was missing for many years. At Juve I have won two league titles, then had them deleted but I don't believe that, for me they are always valid.”