Sassuolo coach Roberto De Zerbi believes that changing the formation to a 4-2-3-1 was the turning point. “In the first few months of the season I was in trouble.”
They host Rino Gattuso's Napoli in the final Serie A game of 2019 at 19:45 GMT. You can read the match preview here.
The Neroverdi had a difficult start to the season, losing six of their first nine league games, but De Zerbi says the turning point came against Fiorentina.
Sassuolo coach Roberto De Zerbi believes that changing the formation to a 4-2-3-1 was the turning point. “In the first few months of the season I was in trouble.”
They host Rino Gattuso's Napoli in the final Serie A game of 2019 at 19:45 GMT. You can read the match preview here.
The Neroverdi had a difficult start to the season, losing six of their first nine league games, but De Zerbi says the turning point came against Fiorentina.
“In the first few months of the season I was in trouble. I have been a coach for seven years. I never start with a formation and I don’t have a favourite system that I like or don’t like.
“I try to put the players in their best positions, keeping the same principles.
“Then I realised that width is one of the essential characteristics of this team. The 4-2-3-1 helps the players in this respect, and the turning point came in the second half against Fiorentina,” said De Zerbi at his press conference.
Right-back Marlon signed from Barcelona in the summer of 2018, and De Zerbi has been impressed with him.
“I was hoping for his growth. He has everything to become a defender for a top European side. Last year he did very well in the first six months, with a few ups and downs due to a little flashiness. Then he was injured for five months through injury. If he continues to play the way he has been he will become a strong player, to the level of Merih Demiral, but with different characteristics.”
Sassuolo meet a Napoli side who haven’t won in over two months, but De Zerbi knows Gattuso too well back from their Serie C clashes.
“Gattuso will have them well prepared, like he has always done and always will, you won’t find a Gattuso side unprepared. They have quality as individuals. We have to play in the correct way, without thinking that it's nearly Christmas.
“We know that we can do well.”