Fabio Capello has accused Barcelona boss Hansi Flick of arrogance in the Catalan side’s Champions League elimination against Inter Milan.
Lamine Yamal and Co were on the cusp of advancing to the final before Francesco Acerbi scored a dramatic equaliser late on.
Then Davide Frattesi slotted the winner in extra time to make it 7-6 on aggregate in an extraordinary tie.
Capello felt Flick’s approach harmed Barcelona, telling Gazzetta dello Sport: ‘Inzaghi was smart in taking advantage of the opportunities.
‘Flick was a bit arrogant as he continued playing man-on-man.’
Inter and PSG will meet in the Champions League final on May 31 at the Allianz Arena in Munich after the French side overcame Arsenal 3-1 on aggregate.
Fabio Capello accused Hansi Flick of tactically being arrogant in Barcelona’s defeat
Flick embraces Lamine Yamal after Barcelona’s elimination by Inter Milan on Tuesday
The former England, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Roma and Juventus coach previewed the showpiece game, saying the midfield battle will be key.
‘It will be a balanced final, but everything starts from the midfield,’ he reasoned.
‘Inzaghi’s trio struggled in Barcelona, but they played a good game on Tuesday. Inter’s midfielders have impressed me even if they’re understandably not at their best at the end of the season.
‘Inter can rely on Lautaro and Thuram up front, another positive factor that should not be overlooked.’
And the 78-year-old is hugely impressed with PSG, who he believes have a well-rounded side with threats everywhere.
He added: ‘You have to start with the goalkeeper, who helped the French side go to the final.
‘However, beyond Donnarumma, Luis Enrique’s team is well balanced and has a very strong midfield.
‘They are not physically imposing, but they have top-quality dynamism and tactical awareness. They press immediately, trying to win the ball back, even if yesterday they seemed a bit unsettled by Arsenal’s pressing.
Inter scored a dramatic winner in extra time after their late leveller in the semi-final
‘Doué, Dembélé, and Kvaratskhelia are excellent dribblers, and they can punish you if you don’t handle them well.
‘Marquinhos still plays a crucial role in defence, and there’s a similarity with Inter, the wing-backs Hakimi and Mendes. Like the Nerazzurri, they are very effective when pushing forward. Maximum focus will be needed on the flanks.’
In his decorated managerial career, Capello managed to win the Champions League once, leading AC Milan to victory in the 1993-94 season.
He retired from management in 2018 after being sacked by Chinese side Jiangsu Suning.
