The Italian Super Cup is preparing for a makeover and a return to its more traditional format. Lega Serie A president Ezio Simonelli, speaking on Radio Anch'io Sport on Rai Radio 1, outlined the future for the coming years.
"We're no longer restricted to a double-header. Next year, the Asian Cup will be played in Riyadh, and the Saudis, despite still having a contracted edition, have already said they will withdraw. We will be free to choose the venue and format," Simonelli explained, officially opening the door to a change in format.
The League leader's stance is clear and looks to the past. "My idea is to return to the classic format: a single final between the league winner and the Coppa Italia winner," he added, reviving a solution that has characterized the Super Cup for years.
The calendar could also be pushed back. "If we move toward a single final, the date could even be at the start of the championship, as in the past," Simonelli emphasized, while specifying that any decisions will be made by the relevant bodies. "These decisions are up to the League Council, as is the location of the final."
Napoli won the Italian Super Cup in Riyadh, and Antonio Conte appeared before Sport Mediaset with the satisfaction of someone who saw his team respond on the pitch. "The boys played two impeccable matches. They really wanted to win, and we wanted to give our fans this trophy and have a peaceful Christmas, with a trophy in our trophy cabinet," said the Napoli coach immediately after the victory over Bologna.
Conte emphasizes the value of victory and the weight of trophies in football. "Winners stay. Two years ago, Napoli lost the Super Cup final to Inter, but few remember they got that far. It had already been a great journey, but in football, it's the winners that count. No one remembers the finalists. As a player, I lost a lot, and when you lose, your resentment increases because you never want to relive that moment."
Napoli lifted the Italian Super Cup in Riyadh, and the words of its players captured a picture of a united, hungry team, confident in its own strength. David Neres, who scored the brace that decided the final against Bologna, shared his joy in the heat of the moment.
"I'm happy with the goals, but even more so with the victory and the trophy," the Brazilian winger told Sport Mediaset, emphasizing the collective value of the victory. "Winning gives you so much confidence. Now we'll rest for a day and then focus on the match against Cremonese."
It's a huge celebration for Napoli, who lifted the Italian Super Cup to the skies in Riyadh by defeating Bologna 2-0 after a dominant final. A brace from Neres decided the match, the star of an evening that gave the Azzurri their third Super Cup trophy in their history.
Napoli started strongly and created their first clear chance in the 10th minute. McTominay played a through ball to Elmas, who entered the box from the left and fired a right-footed shot to the near post, but the ball skidded wide. After the half-hour mark, Conte's team threatened again, with Ravaglia forced to intervene on a dangerous McTominay cross-shot from the left.
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Comments (1)
The idea of returning to the classic formula seems interesting to me, but I don't know if it's the right choice. Recent years have shown that changing traditions can bring both advantages and disadvantages. We'll see what happens.