Walter Mazzarri outlines where Napoli have already improved in the win over SC Braga, supports Natan and insists there are only minor differences between the 3-4-3 and 4-3-3 formations.
The Partenopei were in a very strong position going into this final group game, knowing they could even afford to lose by one clear goal and still qualify for the last 16.
However, they came out fighting and were gifted the opener by a comical Serard Saatci own goal, then Victor Osimhen bundled it over the line with a rather unorthodox attempt at a back-heel flick that ended up hitting his other leg.
It is the first home win since September and secures their place behind Real Madrid, while SC Braga take third place and drop into the Europa League.
“Aside from qualification, I was focused on not conceding goals, as this team had been stretched out and lacking solidity for a while. We wanted to find more balance, some things worked better than others, and we allowed some guys to rest too. It was a positive day,” Mazzarri told Sky Sport Italia.
“What little we could do on marking in the penalty area, as you remember we tended to lose men on throw-ins and pull-backs from the by-line. We saw the team winning back the ball quickly too, all things that this side did really well last season and had rather lost.”
Natan was filling in as a left-back for the injured Mario Rui and Mathias Olivera and again had a surprisingly good performance, even setting up the Osimhen goal with a strong run.
“The lad has real quality, he was a little demoralised and needed support. I know what it’s like, as I had Bremer at Torino who felt the same way, it’s not easy coming from Brazil to Italy and a very different league. He looks a different player now, has immense potential, needs support and I am sure he will only get better.”
Since Mazzarri took over from sacked Rudi Garcia, they have won two games in all competitions and lost three.
“The trouble with being the reigning Champions of Italy is that everyone now prepares for you. At the same time, they too are not accustomed to being Champions, so sub-consciously think maybe their teammate will take care of it or do something else. These lads have to focus on the details again, like preventative marking, and for the first time today I saw these things were starting to happen again.
“We’ll see if the process is completed by the end of the season or not, there’s a long campaign ahead of us.”
Alex Meret had to make at least one extraordinary save on Ricardo Horta and Braga also thumped the woodwork.
“We were not perfect tonight certainly, but compared to the recent past we were finally marking opponents in the penalty area on crosses. I just got started, I am relatively satisfied, we have to show against Cagliari that the process is continuing. I am pretty confidence, I see that in the little we manage to train together, they are trying hard.”
Napoli qualify for the Champions League Round of 16 for the third time in a row, having only managed this twice before in 2011-12 and 2018-19.
Mazzarri is famous for the three-man defence, so he was asked if he was planning on moving to a 3-5-2 in future with the squad he inherited from Luciano Spalletti.
“Not many know this, but the 4-3-3 is my favourite system! I always said, you need the right players to do it. Even losing Kim Min-jae, we still have Stanislav Lobotka and two quick central players, so we can certainly still do this,” insisted the coach.
“I know people assumed we would immediately move to 3-5-2. But if you think about it, the 3-4-3 is similar to the 4-3-3, if you have Lobotka anticipating between the lines, that makes it a 3-4-3.
“When I had Napoli many years ago and started with a three-man defence and things weren’t going well, I would put Valon Behrami in front of the defence, take off a central midfield and it would be a 4-3-3. It is a similar shape, but with slightly different defensive movements.”