ROME (AP) — Out of the blue, Napoli faces perhaps its biggest challenge.
The southern Italian side have won so many games (30 of 37 in all competitions) and scored so many goals (91) that they lead Serie A by a wide lead and are a legitimate contender for the Champions League title. But the only situation he hasn’t faced has been responding to an ugly defeat.
It’s what the Partenopei will have to do after a 4-0 debacle at home to reigning Italian champions Milan on Sunday.
“The concept of invincibility is something you assign to us. We know very well that we have defects,” coach Luciano Spalletti told reporters on Thursday. “And now we know that from now on we are going to have to fight very difficult battles to bring home the scudetto.”
Before the defeat against the Rossonero team, Napoli fans dismissed superstitions and looked at everything in a rosy light, as if the team had already been crowned. Some even waved flags with the number 3 to commemorate in advance what would be the squad’s third Serie A title.
Diego Maradona led Napoli to their only two crowns in Italy, in 1987 and 1990.
“As long as we don’t get the last point we need, all that is useless,” Spalletti stressed about the early celebrations.
What is required is a vindictive performance against Lecce this Friday, before Napoli faces Milan again, in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final five days later at the San Siro.
Is there a chance that Napoli could focus too soon on a rematch with Milan?
“If I think about Milan, I would make the same mistake as the people who say that we have already won the scudetto,” emphasized Spalletti.
Victor Osimhen, Serie A’s leading scorer, is still unavailable for the match against Lecce, due to an injury to his left leg abductor, which sidelined him for the match against Milan. However, Spalletti said the striker could return for the next confrontation with the Rossoneri.
Although Napoli has a comfortable 16-point lead over second-place Lazio, some “ultras” have recently protested the high ticket prices. There was even a fight between two factions of Neapolitan fans in the stands, during the match against Milan.
“Certainly the environment didn’t help us,” Spalletti acknowledged. “We cannot continue without our fans. So the best thing is for those who want to create problems to stay at home… Napoli is a football capital because of its fans”.
Despite the defeat against the Milan team, Napoli can still secure the scepter with five or more dates in advance if they maintain their current advantage.
“We need 15 points or five wins. I’ve been in this job for some time and I know that there are times when the ball doesn’t roll in your favour,” explained Spalletti, 64, who has never been crowned in Serie A, despite having led teams like the Roma and Inter “We still have a task to complete.”
Napoli’s other Serie A losses were 1-0 to Inter in January and Lazio a month ago.
Napoli also lost 2-0 to Liverpool on the last date of the Champions League group stage. The Partenopei had already secured a ticket to the round of 16.
For the rest, Napoli’s other defeat in the 2022-23 season came against Cremonese on penalties in the Italian Cup.
“We are a very strong squad, and we will still be if we can show it on the pitch,” Spalletti said. “But if we don’t focus, we risk allowing rivals to invade our space. Milan showed in that game that it is still the champion of Italy. We don’t show that we deserve to be the leaders”.
