Maurizio Sarri rues Napoli’s “mental block” that led to “too many points thrown away” pre-Sampdoria but insists his side “are trying to eliminate it”.
Napoli head into their first Serie A game of 2017 seven points behind leaders Juventus, who have a game in hand on their southern counterparts, and Sarri is aware his team cannot afford to waste any more opportunities.
Maurizio Sarri rues Napoli’s “mental block” that led to “too many points thrown away” pre-Sampdoria but insists his side “are trying to eliminate it”.
Napoli head into their first Serie A game of 2017 seven points behind leaders Juventus, who have a game in hand on their southern counterparts, and Sarri is aware his team cannot afford to waste any more opportunities.
“We’ve thrown too many points away, but it’s a mental block that we’re trying to eliminate,” the Coach said at a Press conference.
“Chiriches? I don’t know if he’ll play, but he’s feeling well. We have absences but also players to come in.
“Pavoletti? I don’t know if I’ll call him up, he must finish his healing process but if he begins to train with the ball then he might get into the squad.
“He will give us a hand and provides us with a valuable option.
“Sampdoria? They’re a team that play football, have quality, pose real danger going forward and have good defensive organisation.
“Maksimovic? We’ve had more time to work with him, it’s not easy to change the way a player interprets a position.
“He must only think of the ball and not his opponent. It’s not easy to change after 15 years of thinking in a certain way.
“Real Madrid, at this time, aren’t in my thoughts. For now, there’s only Sampdoria in our minds.
“It’ll be an exciting game, but I’m not thinking about it at the moment, I saw six-seven games of Sampdoria three-four of Spezia. That’s how I spent my holidays.”