Manchester United may still be 13th in the Premier League table but, following that 3-0 win over Leicester City, there are only four points separating them from Arsenal.
As Mikel Arteta’s side slipped up again, and as Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho fired the Red Devils past Leicester, Manchester United ended the Ruud van Nistelrooy era with a win while also providing Ruben Amorim with a platform to build upon in the tightest of tables.
But if you thought the Premier League was competitive, just take a look at Serie A.
You would struggle to slip even a cigarette paper between the top six in Italy’s first division. Only two points separate Napoli – the Scudetto pacesetters – and Juventus.
And if Sunday’s crunch clash between Napoli and reigning champions Inter Milan was supposed to give a hint as to the destination of this season’s title, a hard-fought, evenly-matched 1-1 draw at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona provided few answers.
Though, as former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay once again proved himself as the man for the big occasion with a typical poacher’s finish inside the penalty area, Jaap Stam was left feeling that Napoli might have secured themselves a bonafide difference-maker in what could become a six-horse race.
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“They [Napoli and Inter] are the two clubs with which Milan will have to compete, even if Serie A is more balanced than in the past and even Atalanta and Juventus can fight for the title,” Stam tells Gazetta dello Sport.
“Napoli are deservedly first for now because they have a good coach in Conte and made a great signing in Scott McTominay. The squad is of a high level and I’m not surprised that Napoli started so strong.”
This was McTominay’s first goal in seven Napoli appearances.
The Scotland international has divided opinion during his first few months on Italian soil. While some have suggested that McTominay could emulate Napoli legend Marek Hamsik, others question whether the Carrington graduate is capable of influencing proceedings efficiently enough outside of the 18-yard box.
McTominay faced similar questions during an excellent final season at Man United. Was his impressive goalscoring record from midfield enough to offset to his tendency to go missing in the build-up?
Meanwhile Stam, who won the Champions League at Man United before representing Lazio and Milan in Italy, cannot speak highly enough of the coach who masterminded Inter’s latest Scudetto success story in 2023/24.
Man United were linked with Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi
Simone Inzaghi was heavily linked with the Man United job before Ruben Amorim was chosen as Erik ten Hag’s Old Trafford replacement.
“Inter? I know Simone Inzaghi well because we played together at Lazio,” recalls Stam, one of the finest central defenders in United’s modern history. “I have never found another crazy for football like him, someone who knows and studies everything.
“His passion is reflected in his team’s game. He is a great coach and has already deservedly won several trophies.”
According to reports over in Italy, Man United held exploratory talks with Simone Inzaghi. The Inter boss had little interest in leaving the San Siro during the season, however.
Fortunately, Ruben Amorim proved to be somewhat easier to convince.
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