Capello says Roma are best placed in Champions League race as Como miss Nico Paz and Milan await Modric boost
Quick summary
Fabio Capello said Roma look the strongest side in the final-day race for Champions League places, while warning that Como will suffer without injured Nico Paz. He added that Luka Modric's return could calm Milan, but only if the whole team improves.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceFabio Capello has delivered his verdict on the four-way Champions League race heading into the final day of the Serie A season, backing Roma as the side in the best shape while warning that Como will feel the absence of the injured Nico Paz acutely.
The former Milan and England coach spoke to Gazzetta dello Sport, via MilanNews , ahead of a dramatic evening in which Milan, Roma, Como and Juventus all go into their final fixtures with the top four still undecided, and with only two of the quartet guaranteed to finish there.
Fabio Capello (Photo by Jurij Kodrun/Getty Images) Capello backs Roma and warns Juventus they need collective response not individual heroics On Roma, Capello was glowing. “Roma are in very good shape,” he said. “They have done some important things recently, shown continuity of play and performance as a team. They have also recovered all their players, for example Dybala, which means Gasperini only has to get his selections right.”
Milan’s prospects, Capello suggested, hinge on the collective rather than on the return of any single player.
“The return of Modric can give a little serenity to the squad,” he said. “But you should not think that if he plays then everything is already resolved. Everyone must give more, as they have done in certain moments in recent matches. But from the first minute.”
Como’s challenge without their talisman was also addressed.
“Como must keep winning, but without Paz it is a fine team that is missing his genius,” Capello said. “He is the man who has always made the difference, both with the goals he has managed to score and with his illuminating passes.”
On Juventus, who face the Turin derby, Capello stressed the need for a collective response.
“Here we must not name one player alone, it is not enough,” he said. “It is the team that must find itself again, forget the last defeat, win and hope the results at the end of the evening are favourable.”
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What happened
Fabio Capello assessed the four-way Serie A battle for Champions League qualification before the final round, highlighting Roma's form and squad recovery as major advantages. He said Como remain competitive but will feel the loss of injured Nico Paz because of his creativity and goal threat. Capello also suggested Luka Modric's return could bring composure to Milan, though he stressed that collective improvement matters more than any one player. On Juventus, he warned that a team response is needed rather than relying on individual heroics.
Chance analysis
This matters because late-season availability and form are decisive in top-four races, and Capello's comments point directly to squad-condition differences among the contenders. Nico Paz's absence weakens Como's creative ceiling, while Roma's returning players and continuity improve their stability. Modric's return is a mild positive for Milan, but the article does not suggest a transformational change on its own.
The likely effect is a negative short-term blow to Como, a modest positive for Milan's control, and a generally favorable read on Roma's top-four chances.
Treat Como's attack as weakened without Nico Paz, give Roma a small stability upgrade, and view Modric's return for Milan as supportive rather than decisive.