Hirving Lozano believes that Napoli are stronger than Inter as they fight for the Scudetto this season.
The 26-year-old Mexican forward has been a core part of Luciano Spalletti’s squad in the Campania capital this campaign, scoring four goals and providing three assists in 20 Serie A appearances. After returning from a short battle with COVID he scored a brace in the 2-0 win over Bologna earlier this week.
Speaking with Corriere della Sera, Lozano first touched on his mindset and mentality.
“You can’t please everyone all the time, I’m very happy, but I can do more, I have to do more.”
He touched on Napoli’s position in the title race this season and their strengths compared to their rivals.
“We’re playing for the Scudetto, not hide-and-seek. The season is still long. But we are strong and we must look as high as possible, even if Inter and Milan are going fast.
“We can hold our own against Inter, in fact we’re stronger. Player by player, man for man, the value is higher here.”
Lozano discussed Napoli’s issues with injuries and COVID infections this campaign.
“Injuries have penalised us. COVID, and I know what that means, knocked us out. But we’re back on track and we can annoy everyone. This virus has affected the world. And football has also paid a high price.”
He commented on his own recent recovery from COVID.
“For an athlete, recovery is difficult. Isolation is an emotional as well as a physical suffering. The virus is an invisible monster that takes over your head.
“I was in Mexico and I would have liked to spend Christmas with my family, instead I was locked in my room with a thousand fears. I’ve recovered, I haven’t stopped working and the results are showing.”
The 26-year-old Mexican forward touched on a scary eye injury that he suffered.
“Moments of terror, the pain was very strong. I feared losing my eye. And I didn’t want to resign myself to the idea that I would never play football again. The doctors were prompt and reassuring, then they told me that my eye was at risk.”
The Napoli winger spoke about his working relationship with Luciano Spalletti.
“If we consider the number of games played, we’re more or less there. Ancelotti welcomed me, with Gattuso it was difficult at the beginning, then we understood each other and it went better. Spalletti is the motivator, the experienced coach who not only tells you that you have to work, but is the first to do so.
“He scolds me, but I understand that he wants to spur me on. I also know that I can give more, I have to do it for myself and for this shirt I wear. ‘Be a devil’ he tells me. I have to attack the opponent.”
Finally, Lozano gave his thoughts on Napoli talisman Lorenzo Insigne, who will join Toronto on a free transfer in the summer.
“Insigne has made his history here, I still need time to make mine. I’d like to play all the time, yes. But the coach decides and I know it depends on me.”
#Lozano: 'Lo scudetto lo vince il #Napoli, siamo più forti dell'#Inter in ogni singolo uomo. Il covid ti prende la testa è stata dura' https://t.co/Oe5KIKuibI pic.twitter.com/Bjdnn06S9w
— calciomercato.com (@cmdotcom) January 22, 2022
Not agree.
Inter have the strongest team…you cannot see the player like Alexis Sanchez, Vidal and Gagliardini as sub player in the other team…
Inter squad is the most expensive in serie a..the quality has told so far
Delusional human being this guy, always been. Good luck.
Napoli have a pretty strong first 11, but the subs are largely poor to average. Inter have a better squad, without question.
Only Koulibaly, Ruiz, Insigne and Osimhen would get into or have a chance of getting into Inter’s first team.
Your crazy men if you win the leag change your team or wait the next maradonna
I agree with Lozano and that’s why Napoli are top with a game in and with best defence and scoring and creating more goals than all of the teams in Italy and all of that but still registered a single defeat. Or maybe just like Lozano I might have mistakenly referenced a different team other than Napoli.
Di Lorenzo, Koulibally, Fabian Ruiz, Insigne, Osimhen, Zielinski are better than
Darmian, Brozovic, Perisic, Dzeko and Chalanoglou respectively.
A mix XI would be
Handanovic; Di Lorenzo, Koulibally, De Vrij, Bastoni; Ruiz, Barella, Zielinski; Insigne, Lautaro, Osimhen
Subs?
Lozano/Politano, Lobotka, Mertens are far more useful than the likes of Vidal and Alexis.
Why is Napoli on -8? A) lost to Empoli–Spezia at home (-6 points) and B) 3 months full of COVID and injuries (Koulibally, Osimhen, Anguissa, Ruiz are 4 players that have been missing tons of games)
Individually, man utd has better player than west ham.. if that kind of comparison means to you
To the Napoli haters on here, you know where you can go and what you can do with your heads.