Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri opened up about the team’s fluctuating confidence this season and their goals for the Supercoppa Italiana.
The Partenopei had been in a run of disastrous form in December and carried this forward into the new year with a 3-0 loss to Torino, but the team bounced back in a tense 2-1 victory over Salernitana, finally giving them something to smile about.
Napoli now sit 8th in the Serie A table after 20 games, three points behind fourth place Fiorentina. In the meantime, they’ve travelled to Saudi Arabia to take part in the four-team Supercoppa Italiana. They’ll face the Viola in the semi-final before possibly taking on the victor of Inter–Lazio in the final.
Speaking in a press conference via TMW, Mazzarri first discussed what Napoli’s win over Salernitana means and how it changes their transfer market goals.
“The market doesn’t have an impact, I only think about tomorrow and whether the next game will go well. I’ve always been used to this, I also try to instil this mentality in the boys.
“We were coming from a moment in which we were playing well, but we weren’t able to achieve what we deserved and so we had lost confidence a little, I think this victory did us good.”
He provided an update on the health of his squad.
“Cajuste, contrary to what I thought when he left the pitch, I was happy. He should try today and should do it, Zielinski seems to be better, and we will evaluate him this evening.
“Demme on the other hand seems to me to have had a strain, I don’t think it’s very serious, he didn’t train yesterday and is unlikely to be available.”
The coach was asked about his lost Supercoppa Italiana final in 2012.
“Now that you make me remember… I don’t like talking about the past, but it was a particular final, let’s put it that way. Let’s look ahead, this is a different story, it’s a different Napoli from that time, the club has done leaps and bounds and managed to win a title.
“They are different things, we think. Tomorrow, we are coming from a fluctuating moment, and we have to play a match that gives conviction to the boys, that brings back the serenity they had a few months ago.”
Mazzarri discussed the possibility of a change in formation or system.
“It’s best to keep what I thought to myself, we’ve had two training sessions and the last one is today. Give me time to evaluate.
“It’s true that we tried something different weeks ago, but it takes a bit of time. I think we’ll stay more or less like this.”
The Partenopei coach was asked what the team should learn from Rudi Garcia’s last match in charge, the 3-1 loss to Fiorentina.
“I won’t go into the merits of a match played by a colleague, it’s true that it was a bad match because after winning the scudetto every lost match is bloody. I’ve seen it again in recent days and it’s clear that I’m trying to understand what to do with it different.
“Tonight, I will also try to work in training thinking about that match. I certainly saw a great Fiorentina who played a great match, and I will try to do something different.”
He was also asked to give his thoughts on the four-team Supercoppa Italiana in Saudi Arabia.
“It’s a good question, but it’s not up to me to answer. When I coached Napoli the first time, they played who won the title and who won the Coppa Italia, someone else decided on this new format and it’s best that you ask them on because I can’t go into detail.”
Finally, Mazzarri discussed the current state of Saudi Arabian football.
“It’s useless to hide, it’s clear that there is a European crisis where there is less economic potential. Here there is more economic potential and important players can be attracted by this, and then the league will also become increasingly competitive.
“This is there for all to see. It’s clear that they take champions away from European teams, who have made football history.”
Napoli, Mazzarri: “Il mercato non ci influenza. Cajuste e Zielinski recuperano” https://t.co/chBHJ3WkPF
— TUTTOmercatoWEB (@TuttoMercatoWeb) January 17, 2024