Alessandro Del Piero Explains Italian Clubs' Persistent 'Tiredness' and Champions League Struggles

Italian football icon Alessandro Del Piero has voiced his concern that Italian clubs perpetually suffer from 'tiredness,' suggesting they ought to prioritize on-field performance over complaints about fixture congestion.

His remarks come as no Serie A team remains in the Champions League, following Atalanta's decisive 10-2 aggregate defeat by Bayern Munich in the Round of 16. Napoli, Inter, and Juventus had already been eliminated in earlier stages.

"Our recurring issue is fatigue. We are perpetually the ones feeling tired; in Italy, we are always tired," Del Piero stated during an interview with Sky Sport. He contrasted this with foreign counterparts, noting, "I’ve rarely heard coaches abroad complain about matches or fatigue. One must adapt. We are discussing professional teams, and they must equip themselves accordingly."

Del Piero emphasized that modern football offers ample resources for managing player fitness. "Today's football is different. There are more players, more substitutions, greater financial investment in physical preparation, recovery, and other aspects. There's an abundance of resources," he explained.

The last Champions League triumph for an Italian club dates back to the 2009-10 season, when José Mourinho's Inter lifted the trophy. Since then, both Juventus and Inter have reached the final twice, yet neither managed to secure the prestigious cup.

He advocated for enhanced professionalism in player development, asserting, "There’s significant room for improvement, as demonstrated by other leagues. We often believe we are the best, yet then we concede seven goals, which indicates a fundamental problem. Consider Barcelona; they consistently field their core players, and when an injury occurs, they seamlessly integrate another player."

Del Piero himself boasts an impressive career, having won the Champions League with Juventus in 1996 and the World Cup with the Italian national team in 2006. He also touched upon the current state of the national squad, noting that Italy is set to compete in World Cup play-offs later this month, having missed qualification for both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.