Let’s go with the italian teams first:

• ACF Fiorentina. There’s no question it’s a good team and Cesare Prandelli is one of the best coaches in Italian A League; very smart and skilled coach, he knows well his team and can always find out the opponents’ flaws. The team is composed of very good players…but that’s it. I mean they are good players, but none of them is a real champion, there’s no Messi in Florence. However, in the Champions League Tournament the key of success has always been team play, so never say die.

PRO & CON:

PRO: no individuality and selfishness but strong and concrete team play
CON: first time at this stage, high emotional risk. Could players keep the pressure?

CAPTAIN SB’s prediction: against a weaker team (Stuttgart or Olympiacos) Fiorentina will be fine; otherwise it doesn’t have a chance. Sorry Cesare!


• AC Milan. A New Era has begun: new coach, new formation, OLD players. Probably the team with the highest average age, the key players Alessandro Nesta, Andrea Pirlo, Filippo Inzaghi, Massimo Ambrosini , Clarence Seedorf and Gennaro Gattuso were there when AC Milan won the Champions League back in 2006-2007 and – oh my God – they were there in 2002-2003 victory too! Ok that experience is important and so on…but come on, retirement time arrives for everyone sooner or later.
However, among the Italian teams, AC Milan is the one that will probably stay longer in this tournament.

PRO & CON:

PRO: high talent rate; Ronaldinho and Pato can make the difference against anybody. Good team play has been shown in crucial moments
CON: enigmatic team: how can you win against Real Madrid and lose against Zurich? YES MAN…ZURICH!!
Defensively modest

CAPTAIN SB’s prediction: the same as for Fiorentina. AC Milan finds Chelsea, Barcelona, Manchester UTD or Arsenal = Bye Bye Champions!


• FC Inter. The team is looking for the “big ears Cup” since 1965; every year Inter tries to get it…every year it fails badly. This year the team is much more solid than two or three years ago, the roster is full of talent, there is the technique and also the physical power. FC Inter is one of the European Top team and is a solid candidate for the final victory.

PRO & CON:

PRO: with a great advantage in the national league, FC Inter can focus on the Champions League.
CON: complete lack of the winning mentality (the players has never won anything important)

CAPTAIN SB’s prediction: FC Inter will pass the first turn; after that, Inter has no chance. The matter of fact is there are too many stronger teams. Sorry guys, maybe next year!