The Naples will be expected on Sunday to play at 15 the home game against Fiorentina. The Azzurri are called upon to follow up on the positive streak of the last few games to continue to believe in dream scudetto.
The Napoli coach, Luciano Spalletti, on the eve of the match, he presented himself at the press conference to analyze tomorrow’s match. Below what is reported by ours editorial board:
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Has anything changed to manage the pressure of the fans, is it more difficult to manage the emotional part?
“We have to think about what our race is. We need to have an idea of what awaits us, what we want us to expect. As we said before, at this point, it would be ridiculous not to admit openly that we, Milan, Inter and Juventus are fighting for the Scudetto. We play it in this championship final, regardless of what the championship results are: we must continue on our way. The management of the locker room becomes easy: we understand what genuine professionals we are dealing with. The fact that we can play the Scudetto, after everything we’ve been through, is a sign that we have serious guys, real professionals. These guys train very seriously: if you haven’t behaved like a great professional, it becomes difficult to maintain that pace in a match like the one against Atalanta. Everyone wants to play this chance and I am convinced that as of tomorrow they will show it ”.
Napoli is an away team: what should they do tomorrow with the stadium full?
“The idea of football that we want to develop we have tried to do it constantly. The losses at home are the result of unsuccessful attempts to put into practice the football we want to do. There were also unfavorable episodes, such as losing without being shot on goal. We have had the will to repeat ourselves all the times and we don’t have to do anything different. The fact that the stadium was full in this championship final was the bit we were missing. If I enter the race we will have moments of difficulty, we will have to look around to understand the reaction we must have. Doing good to the heart of the Neapolitans is better than the position in the standings. The Neapolitans are able to understand who is having a good behavior and this is a prize that we like to take. The full stadium is a bit like a cloak that wraps you around and makes you become a superhero ”.
What can the world of football do to raise awareness in this delicate moment?
“The world of football has already expressed itself many times. Many have said several things, one can add something else: this war is a poison that drips into our homes and prevents us from living peacefully. Those images disturb anyone’s sensitivity. Everyone can make his contribution, without wondering how important it is. War kills those who suffer it, but it also kills those who make it and stay alive. It’s unbearable to see those things there ”.
What are the pitfalls for tomorrow and what intrigues you about the work of Italian?
“The company deserves credit: they have worked well on market and on the choice of the coach. For the pitfalls you have to go and see the Italian Cup match where we conceded 5 goals at home. I took Italian as an example to my boys: he had determination even in 9 vs 10 at the last minute with three goals ahead. This is the correct way to give the right determination to the team. They want to propose a modern football, a fast kick, a football made of high pressures and game wrapping on the external chains, they attack a lot from the flanks. It will be a very difficult match, but we know what we have to do, we want to try to win it. But at home we took 5 last time, so the difficulty is all for tomorrow’s match “.
Do the technical, tactical, psychological, temperamental aspects or a pinch of heart count more?
“Resilience makes the difference: the desire to restart, to always get involved day after day, without looking for the easy title that is much more comfortable. We must absolutely try to win these seven games, the attitude must always be that of wanting to do everything to bring the game home. We have a clear idea of what our path must be from here to the end. The boys will give everything in these seven games, this is a championship that we can win and not win, we must live this period peacefully. However it goes, it was a beautiful story. Not winning the Scudetto would not be a failure, reaching the Champions League is already a goal. Our players know what they want and will show it tomorrow. If it is enough and it all depends on us, we will see it along the way. Today, in training, the message of how this training was done was clear. I am clear that how to face this match has been understood ”.
How is Osimhen?
“Osimhen is fine, at the beginning of the week there was this warning in a gesture in the match. We decided to take a break, having other training sessions available. In recent training he went strong, tomorrow he will be there. Not having him available helped us to understand the quality of the players we have in the team. Not having it confirmed how strong Mertens and Petagna are. Zanoli made the Di Lorenzo. Lozano and Elmas entered later and closed the game. Don’t push Osimhen too hard, otherwise he gets out of the team, but he has to stay inside ”.
Can Lobotka be defined as the key man of Napoli?
“The strong point guard of the teams is the one who gives you outlets, makes the team play well. Here too it is easy for me to remember when he was injured and played Demme: in that case he was the best on the pitch. After I took him off the field and I put Lobotka, but Demme tomorrow he will come on the field and show how much he is in condition. Strong group quality is when players go out of their way to play alongside you and not for you. Lobotka strong, but Demme as strong as Lobotka, if only I had made him play “.
What is your dream today?
“Mine becomes very easy to express, but it is not said. That of those who are with me in the locker room is also easy to understand, but it is not said. Everyone’s dream is unique “.
Why did Mertens have little space this season?
“It’s my fault, Mertens deserves to play every game. He would have deserved more space for what is the way of training, what is the quality of him in his training than him. He has made an important contribution so far, but he still has the best to give between now and the end of the season. He loves this shirt, I’m sorry I didn’t give it too much space, but I’m happy to have to deal with people like that, because they give me so much. I see Mertens as both a striker and a second striker. Against Fiorentina in the Italian Cup he played second striker. Several times maybe I have been wrong, in all the times I have not won, but I have to keep choosing and keeping someone out. It cries my heart to leave out players who deserve to play ”.
Do you have any training doubts?
“I always have doubts, precisely because the players train well. When I have them available, I always have doubts, even if it wasn’t always like that. The players will all be oriented to give their best, seeing the stadium participate in matches, seeing it possibly celebrate a goal, is a fantastic thing. Everyone will have a good attitude, including them who are on the bench ”.
Was there a moment in the season when you realized you could play it to the end?
“I left with the intention of playing it until the end. As soon as I arrived, I wanted to realize if the boys were convinced they could play with anyone. I always thought I could place ourselves on the upper floors of the condominium. This is the moment in which I am believing in it the most ”.
Can Rrahmani be called up for tomorrow?
“Rrahmani has only a mild flu, he is available for tomorrow. It was a precaution to send him home, we decided not to train him so as not to make him catch a fever. He can be called up for tomorrow “.
On the Scudetto fight: “I have 33%, even a little less, of being able to win the Scudetto, I have less chance. I think the feeling of the people of Naples deserves it. They live this sport with passion and try to transfer it to us every day. We also have to beat the predictions of friends, which are the most dangerous. Like me, Pioli, Inzaghi and Allegri also deserve it ”.
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