Napoli’s last Scudetto winning coach Alberto Bigon is delighted that Luciano Spalletti has been able to bring the championship back to Naples for the first time in 33 years and noted the similarities between the two title-winning sides in a recent interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.
The 75-year-old told the paper that Spalletti and his team’s achievements will live long in the memory.
“He and his Napoli have achieved an accomplishment that will be remembered as ours is remembered,” he told Gazzetta. “I see similarities between the two sides: for example the spirit and the desire to sacrifice for the common cause.”
Bigon also believes the club’s management deserve credit for replacing several senior members of the previous squad so effectively in the summer transfer window.
He explained: “Many thought that we would not make it against that Milan side, just like many last summer did not trust this Napoli who had lost Insigne, Mertens and Koulibaly. However, removing three roosters from the coop turned out to be the winning move and allowed the young players to express themselves to the maximum extent.
“It has to be said that the management was excellent in replacing them with Kvaratskhelia and Kim “.
When asked what it means to Partenopei supporters to celebrate winning the league title for the first time since 1990, Bigon replied: “It’s nice that the Azzurri fans are celebrating after a long time. Both they and the club deserve it. However, I admit that I am happy that our record for points at home has held up. We won them all apart from one draw.”
However, there is one person Bigon wishes was still around to witness Napoli’s recent success.
He told Gazzetta: “My biggest regret is that Diego can’t be here to celebrate this triumph for his beloved Napoli and that he wasn’t in Doha for Argentina’s victory. The memories that bind me to Maradona I keep close to my heart and I prefer not to talk about them.”
Bigon was also asked who he thought the most important figures in this title-winning Napoli team have been,
“It would be easy to say Kvara or Osimhen, but I would take away the credit from all the rest of the players,” he replied. “And from Spalletti, who has put so much into it. And from the management, starting with president De Laurentiis. Since he arrived, the club has been on an incredible journey. Do you remember where it started from?”