Napoli, Oriali’s enduring bond with Inter, Conte and Mourinho | OneFootball

In the pre-match of Benfica-Napoli, Gabriele Oriali returns to the spotlight with statements that illuminate his deep relationship with Inter and with two coaches who have marked his professional journey: Antonio Conte and José Mourinho.

Napoli, Oriali between Inter, Conte, and Mourinho: a bond that endures beyond the benches

The technical coordinator of Napoli, interviewed by Gazzetta dello Sport, offered a personal insight that goes beyond current sports events, touching on identity chords and indelible memories.

The bond with Inter: a second skin

Oriali doesn't mince words to describe what it means to face the team that has represented a sporting and familial home for him. “There are matches that are not like the others. I would never want to play those against Inter,” he states firmly, reiterating a sense of belonging that has never faded.

The former Nerazzurri executive, a key figure in the club's modern history, emphasizes how that bond has also been decisive in his choices: “Mourinho leaves Inter, Oriali leaves. I would have stayed. Inter is my second skin.”

A professional identity that translates into significant numbers: eight of the over twenty titles he has won in his various careers were achieved with the Nerazzurri.

Mourinho and Conte: two different masters, a common charisma

If Inter is his home, Mourinho and Conte represent for Oriali two complementary ways of experiencing football. He defines them as “bench superstars,” united by their extraordinary ability to convey values and get into the minds of their players.

“For Mourinho and for Conte, players would throw themselves into the fire,” Oriali explains, recalling how both shape the team's personality, leaving an imprint that goes beyond results.

The 2010 Treble, experienced side by side with Mourinho, remains an unparalleled chapter in his career. It's no coincidence he jokes by saying: “Two people call me Gabriele: my mother and José.” A statement that reflects the level of mutual confidence and esteem.

Not even confrontations as opponents have ever strained that relationship: “With Mou, it has already happened to experience challenges as opponents, never enemies.”

A crossing of stories in the Lisbon night

Benfica-Napoli becomes, in Oriali's words, more than just a Champions League match: it is the meeting point between a glorious past and a present of new challenges. On one side, Antonio Conte, now a travel companion in the Napoli project; on the other, José Mourinho, a symbol of the most successful period of modern Inter.

For Oriali, it will be a special match, one of those moments when football ceases to be just competition and returns to being memory, bond, and identity.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.