Former Napoli striker Goran Pandev believes Walter Mazzarri is the ‘right man’ for the Partenopei and feels the coach’s favourite system 3-5-2 is a ‘false problem.’
Mazzarri has returned to Napoli after ten years, replacing Rudi Garcia who was sacked after a 1-0 home loss against Empoli last week.
Pandev played under Mazzarri at Napoli and believes his ex-coach will turn things around at the Stadio Maradona.
“Napoli are ten points below Juventus and Inter, which is a lot, but I am sure Mazzarri will make the top four and he will entertain us in the Champions League and Coppa Italia,” the former striker told Il Corriere dello Sport.
“The system is a false problem. Surely, he is the right man to bring Napoli back among the top teams.”
Mazzarri has always used a 3-5-2 system in his career but reports in Italy claim he will switch to 4-3-3 during his seven-month spell at the Stadio Maradona.
“I am sorry for Garcia, it’s never nice to speak about a coach while he’s being sacked, but this is football,” continued Pandev.
“Napoli have a great squad and I don’t know what didn’t work. It happens sometimes, but they have so many talented players that I don’t even know who’s my favourite one.”
Pandev also said he won’t be at the Stadio Olimpico on Friday when Italy host his national team North Macedonia and revealed his plans for the future.
“I’ll watch the game on TV, I won’t be in Rome. It’s a special game for me, so I won’t make any predictions,” he said.
“Right now I’m managing a club I’ve bought in North Macedonia. I don’t think I am going to become a coach. I just want to enjoy my family which is something I couldn’t do before. Maybe I’ll study to become a director, I’ve started with Branchini, but I still don’t have clear ideas.”