- The Brighton manager has largely struggled during his second year at the club
- Fabio Capello has cast doubt over Roberto de Zerbi’s managerial credentials
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Fabio Capello has questioned Roberto de Zerbi‘s status as a ‘top coach’ and claimed the Brighton manager is only regarded so highly because he is ‘sponsored by Pep Guardiola‘.
De Zerbi has endured a difficult second season at Brighton – with the club 10th in the Premier League table and crashing out of Europe after being thrashed by Roma in the Europa League knockout stages.
The 44-year-old has refused to commit his long-term future to Brighton and despite their torrid performances, De Zerbi continues to be linked with other top jobs in the Premier League and across Europe.
The Italian was previously linked with replacing outgoing Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp at the end of the season prior to Arne Slot being set to take over, while he is also tipped for a return to Italy with AC Milan.
However, former England head coach Capello scoffed at his fellow countryman being discussed as a potential future manager at some of Italy’s top clubs and claimed he is only a ‘third tier’ manager.
Roberto de Zerbi ‘s status as a ‘top coach’ has been questioned by a former England manager
Brighton have largely struggled during De Zerbi’s second season in charge at the club
Former England boss Fabio Capello (pictured) believes De Zerbi is a ‘third tier’ manager
‘I would put De Zerbi in the third tier,’ said Capello as per Calcio Mercato.
‘There is a lot of talk about him as one of the top coaches because Guardiola sponsors him, but this year he is tenth or eleventh in the standings.
‘What have you won in your career? Let’s look at the CV: (the Super Cup with Shakhtar Donetsk in 2021, ed.)
‘He is a well-prepared coach, who asserts his ideas wherever he coaches and has a respectable sponsor like Guardiola,’ he added.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola previously hailed De Zerbi as ‘one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years’
‘So far, however, no one has come forward despite his name being linked to the benches of the big clubs.
‘And then with Brighton he has a €15m clause: honestly it seems too much to me to free a coach,’ said Capello.
De Zerbi previously coached Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk amongst other clubs, winning the Ukrainian Super Cup two-years ago as his only top managerial honour.
However, Capello’s reference to Man City boss Guardiola comes amid the Spaniard’s previous praise for the Brighton chief who he hailed as ‘one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years’.
