Moratti praises Allegri's start and backs Napoli in the title race

Anyone typing "Inter-Napoli Rai" hoping to find Saturday's match will draw a blank: the 3-2 at San Siro never aired on the state broadcaster. Serie A's rights belong to Dazn, which shows every game of every round, and to Sky/NOW, which broadcast three matches a round that are also available on the streaming platform.

I have to say that after two matches in a row — against Como, young, quick and excellent, and against Inter — I think Allegri is doing well with Napoli. Napoli have a lot of regrets.

He said it laughing. On the squad at Allegri's disposal, Moratti had no doubts either: "Napoli's squad is excellent."

Moratti also described his relationship with Allegri, whom he never faced as a rival during his years at Inter: "There was never a chance to see Allegri against my Inter. It never happened. I have an excellent relationship with him." His verdict on the San Siro game itself was clear: "Inter-Napoli was a beautiful game of football. But all the matches are fast, interesting. And then there's Como. I think the level has gone up."

For Inter, who finished the round top of the table on nine points level with Roma, Moratti talked up their Champions League prospects: "Inter can win the Champions League, they have a perfect squad, balanced, very strong players, special ones like Lautaro." On the future of the title fight with Napoli, he had no doubts: "Napoli are strong. You need patience. We'll find them still there fighting against Inter."

These are words from a man who has won it all, and they should be read that way too: it's easy to compliment the team you've just beaten. But the numbers around Napoli tell an uglier story than the one Moratti painted. After three rounds Napoli sit 12th with 3 points, from one win and two defeats, with a real goal difference of just one (5-5) between goals scored and conceded. The patience Moratti is asking for is the same patience the fanbase is struggling to grant Allegri right now, amid frustration over the transfer window and criticism of how the younger players are being managed.

The pitch, though, doesn't wait for verdicts from outside: on Wednesday 9 September at 21:00 CEST (20:00 UK, 15:00 ET), Napoli begin their Champions League campaign at the Maradona against Arsenal. That will be the first real answer, and it will come on the pitch, not at a microphone.