Italian declares he can elevate Jiangsu to level of Serie A giant

Coaching great Fabio Capello believes he can turn his new club, Jiangsu Suning, into the Inter Milan of China.

“I know I can make Jiangsu Suning into another Inter Milan and make it as worldrenowned as Inter of Serie A,” said Capello, who previously managed Inter’s bitter rival AC Milan, as he was unveiled to the media on Wednesday in Nanjing, Jiangsu province.

The club’s owner, Chinese online retail giant Suning Holdings, last year paid $307 million for a 70 percent stake in Inter, so Capello’s lofty declaration will at least have struck the right note with his new employers.

In the latest chapter of his extensive coaching career, Capello has inked an 18-month contract to replace South Korean Choi Yong-soo, who quit the club earlier this month.

Capello’s immediate aims are to steer Jiangsu away from the Chinese Super League relegation zone and try for a good run in the Chinese FA Cup.

After a diabolical start to the season, Jiangsu is second last in the standings, just a point off the bottom. It was also eliminated by Shanghai SIPG in the first knockout round of the AFC Champions League.

Capello, though, is confident he can turn things around.

“I’m here first to lift our position in the Chinese Super League and, in the meantime, try to gain something in the Chinese FA Cup,” said the Italian.

“After three days of training, I’ve got to know the players’ abilities and I think we will be able to perform fine in both competitions.

“I have a lot of faith in both the Suning management and in the club.”

Jiangsu finished runnerup in both the CSL and cup last season but has won just once in 12 league matches this campaign.

The club’s best form has been in the Asian Champions League — reaching the last 16, where it was eliminated by Shanghai SIPG the day before Choi’s resignation.

Capello, who won the Champions League with Milan in 1994, will be assisted by former Italy defender Gianluca Zambrotta and ex-Milan caretaker coach Cristian Brocchi.

Zambrotta will be tasked with shoring up Jiangsu’s leaky defense, which has conceded 22 goals this season, the second worst record in