'Napoli will truly go far' claims Zola as Champions League returns

 ROME – “That save by Donnarumma at 2-0….” Italy and Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola full of praise for Gianluigi Donnarumma, as he gives his predictions and views for the return of the Champions League on Tuesday evening.

 The Manchester derby was won 3-0 on Sunday by Manchester City, with a brace for the usual suspect Haaland, in a week in which he has scored seven goals for club and country, but one of the match-defining moments happened at the other end of the pitch, and involved City's latest arrival: Italy's Gianluigi Donnarumma, who impressed with a clean sheet on debut and some world-class saves.

 Gianfranco Zola spoke with Il Fatto Quotidiano from London, in the middle of the Milan-Bologna game on Sunday. At one point, Modric scored and the former Torres, Napoli, Parma, Chelsea and Cagliari player, now aged 59, and considered the best Italian to ever play in the history of the Premier League, let out a “wow”.

 The main topic of conversation is the start of the Champions League, a long road that will lead to the final in Budapest, scheduled for May 30, 2026.

 But we were talking about Donnarumma, so let us focus on the Italian goalkeeper. In the last Champions League final, he was triumphant, with the 5-0 win over Inter Milan one for the history books.

 Zola commented on the dangers that City now pose with him in their side: “Donnarumma immediately took centre stage with City. The save he made to deny Mbeumo’s shot in the 61^st minute was a masterpiece. Only he could get a hand to that ball. Donnarumma is a wonderful addition to City’s ranks and could shift the balance of the Champions League. Him between the posts, Rodri back in midfield, Foden finding his best form yet again, and then of course the monster up front that is Haaland.”

 When asked about Haaland vs. Mbappe, Zola responded that “they are two different players. Mbappe is more of a winger, Haaland is an out and out centre forward, but right now he is the best. For club he has scored 284 goals. For the national team, 48 in 45 appearances. Exceptional numbers for a 25-year-old,” Il Fatto Quotidiano reports in their interview with the former forward.

 Returning to Donnarumma, Zola wonders “why PSG let him go. Gigio’s hands were on the Champions League in the last final, when he won it with PSG against Inter. Withour him, PSG would have been eliminated by Liverpool or Arsenal. I also noticed how he was hugged by the City players after that monstrous save. It was his calling card in order to become loved immediately by teammates and the public alike. The Etihad went crazy after that masterpiece.”

 His judgment on the new Champions League formula after its debut season?

 “I confess that I was among the sceptics. A little because I'm a dinosaur in all things in life, and a little because I have always liked the format of the 'in or out', but I admit that in the end my opinion is positive. The dynamics of the championship makes all the games open because it is played for the ranking. Then the direct clashes happen and we return to the old ways, but in general I believe that a good compromise has been made.”

 According to the supercomputer of the football analysis company Opta, the favorites are Liverpool, with 20.4 percent probability.

 Then Arsenal (16 percent), PSG (12.1 percent), Manchester City and Barcelona (8.4 percent each). Inter are 9^th with 3 percent together with Newcastle, Napoli sit 12^th with 1.4 percent, Juventus and Atalanta are 18^th with 0.6 percent.

 Zola holds his own views, however: “Here the dinosaur within me returns. These numbers are an indication, processed with the data from right now, but during the season many things can change: injuries, drops in form, unavailability of players in the key matches. The picture seems to me in any case pretty realistic, with regards to current form etc.

 Liverpool have won the last Premier League and have further strengthened their side, Arsenal have been in the picture both in England and Europe for several seasons, PSG are the reigning champions and the City have completed its team with the signing of Donnarumma.

 His favourite Italian team? Napoli, especially after their recent signings.

 “Napoli have impressed me so far during the start of the Serie A. De Bruyne and Hojlund are reinforcements of the highest level. If Conte, who is very good, can manage the double commitment well (Serie A and Champions), Napoli will truly go far. At the moment, not only because they have the Scudetto on their chest (badge of reigning Serie A champions), but they also seem to me the most competitive Italian team.”

 The Champions League gets underway on Tuesday 16 Sep., with Juventus playing Borussia Dortmund. Inter Milan and Atalanta play on Wednesday, with Zola’s favourites Napoli beginning their campaign on Thursday.

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