Speaking at the International Ceramics Exhibition for Architecture and Bathroom Furnishings, Sassuolo CEO Giovanni Carnevali candidly shared his views with Radio 24. “Napoli has strong players, but they haven`t impressed me all that much,” he stated. “Inter also boasts strong players, but at this moment, neither of them has truly left an impression on me.”
Carnevali acknowledged that Sassuolo left the San Siro pitch with some regret following their recent match. “Yes, because we could have even drawn,” he confirmed. “We always aim for a positive result, and having played a good game, there isn`t too much regret. We are still a team in construction; many players arrived in the final hours of the transfer window, and for the first two matchdays, we didn`t have a complete squad. Such a lengthy transfer market hasn`t brought benefits, but we are confident for the upcoming matches. We`ve changed a lot, and even Grosso needs time.”
Carnevali then spoke about Domenico Berardi, Sassuolo`s leader who recently signed a new contract. “He`s a great example, one of the few club legends of recent years,” Carnevali remarked. “There were indeed requests for him; there was even a negotiation with Juventus, but he preferred to stay here because he dreamt of playing in the Europa League. He also took the team by the hand in Serie B. He had a contract until 2027, and we extended it for another two seasons. We`ll see what the future holds, but we have a wonderful relationship.”
Turning his attention to Inter, whom Sassuolo faced in the previous Serie A round, and their new coach Chivu, Carnevali expressed confidence. “I don`t believe it`s a risk for Inter,” he stated, “there`s a strong club structure and Beppe Marotta, who is the best director. With such a club behind you, you can afford a coach who doesn`t have vast experience, but Chivu is a prepared and studious individual. I consider him an excellent coach; the important thing is that the club works well and protects him. If the match had perhaps lasted a few more minutes, we could have played a trick on Inter…”
Carnevali concluded by reflecting on modern football, particularly the involvement of investment funds. “They work less with heart and more with other interests,” he opined. “The football of Moratti, Berlusconi, and Sensi was the most beautiful; I don`t know if it will ever be as beautiful as before. We also need to pay attention to all the changes. For example, I don`t like referees talking on the field; it serves no purpose and wastes time. I don`t consider it a good thing.”
