Napoli have called a press silence after the disastrous home defeat to Empoli, as President Aurelio De Laurentiis might’ve dropped a hint about Rudi Garcia’s replacement – Fabio Cannavaro.
The coach decided to ring the changes today after the deeply disappointing 1-1 Champions League draw with Union Berlin midweek.
He surprisingly dropped Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, Piotr Zielinski and Natan, switching to a 4-2-3-1 formation with Giovanni Simeone supported by Giacomo Raspadori.
It didn’t work very well, as they were jeered off the pitch at half-time and he moved back to 4-3-3 from the 55th minute.
Even that failed to shake things up, as after a great Etrit Berisha save to deny Kvaratskhelia, moments later Viktor Kovalenko’s curler gave Empoli a stoppage-time victory, as Napoli were jeered off the pitch.
According to Sky Sport Italia, President De Laurentiis went into the locker room at half-time yet again today, already doing the same in several recent matches, including the Union Berlin stalemate.
It was De Laurentiis who called the press silence and it has been noted he was sitting next to brothers Fabio and Paolo Cannavaro in the stands today.
Both Neapolitan, products of the Napoli academy and players for the club, Fabio was sacked as coach of Benevento in February 2023, where Paolo was working as his assistant.
Another candidate would be Igor Tudor, formerly of Udinese and Olympique Marseille.
Compared to last season, Napoli are 11 points worse off and struggling in Europe too.
There is a strong run of fixtures coming up after the break for international duty against Atalanta, Real Madrid, Inter and Juventus.