Carlo Ancelotti hints Arkadiusz Milik will start for Napoli against Chievo, while clarifying his position on Edinson Cavani. “That doesn’t mean he’s a transfer target."
It kicks off at 14.00 GMT on Sunday, click here for a match preview.
“We consider the next few weeks an opportunity to remain competitive and get stronger in the second half of the season,” said the Coach in his Press conference.
Carlo Ancelotti hints Arkadiusz Milik will start for Napoli against Chievo, while clarifying his position on Edinson Cavani. “That doesn’t mean he’s a transfer target."
It kicks off at 14.00 GMT on Sunday, click here for a match preview.
“We consider the next few weeks an opportunity to remain competitive and get stronger in the second half of the season,” said the Coach in his Press conference.
“We’ve got to make the most of this period building up to Christmas so we can close the gap from the leaders and try to get through the Champions League group stage.
“It is an opportunity for Milik too, as perhaps Dries Mertens is further up the pecking order now, but I have a whole battery of strikers who I am satisfied with.
“We’ve got a few issues with Simone Verdi and Amin Younes, but the team overall is in good shape after the break for international duty. We will also evaluate Mertens, who got a knock in training.”
Napoli have broken away from Inter and sit six points off Serie A leaders Juventus. Tomorrow they host Chievo, making their debut under third Coach of the season Domenico Di Carlo.
“Chievo might be bottom of the table, but they will be highly-motivated, as a change of Coach always provides a boost. It might’ve seemed like a simple fixture for us against Genoa last time, but that turned out to be extremely complicated.
“A Coach has to be on his toes more going into a fixture that is on paper easier, but so far the team has been very reliable in that sense, so I am calm and also attentive.
“I would’ve preferred for the gap from the leaders to be less than six points, but it’s all credit to Juve for dropping points only once this season.
“I am satisfied with my Napoli team, above all because it has substance, can read situations well and is ready to suffer too. I like the collective approach, the solidity that comes from the forwards sacrificing themselves for the team.
“It’s true we haven’t scored many from set plays this season, but we have also not conceded many from those situations.”
Ancelotti was asked about the recurring reports of Cavani returning to Naples from Paris Saint-Germain.
“There will be time to evaluate the season and consider what needs adjusting. I won’t hide from the Cavani questions. I was asked if I’d like to work with him and I said I always enjoy working with talented players, but that’s also true of others I’ve not had in my team, like Leo Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. That doesn’t mean they are Napoli transfer targets.
“Cavani, of course, is well loved in Naples and did very well here.”