Dries Mertens scored the opener in a 2-0 win against Parma and said Napoli new-boy Victor Osimhen ‘can make the difference’ this season.
The two sides struggled with the heat at lunch time this Sunday and Mertens admits Parma tired after the break, when he and Lorenzo Insigne scored twice to kill the game.
Dries Mertens scored the opener in a 2-0 win against Parma and said Napoli new-boy Victor Osimhen ‘can make the difference’ this season.
The two sides struggled with the heat at lunch time this Sunday and Mertens admits Parma tired after the break, when he and Lorenzo Insigne scored twice to kill the game.
“Playing at midday is difficult, it was hot and the pitch wasn’t in good shape. We made too many mistakes in the first half, but did better after the break,” Mertens told DAZN.
“We didn’t do badly in the first half either, and Parma defended well, but when they tired and the spaces opened up, it changed the game.”
The match also changed when Victor Osimhen came off the bench and Napoli shifted from 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1 formation.
“It’s true we signed a young player who can make the difference, but we have others in the squad who can make the difference too. Andrea Petagna did really well in pre-season training and I think he can play an important part for us too.
“We haven’t really talked about what comes next, but the coach really wanted to win the first game. We even trained in Naples at midday to prepare for this and it was very hot indeed, but we got through it.
“My objective is to win, after that to score a goal, so I achieved both. I’m happy.”