Spalletti confirms Kvaratskhelia out of Napoli-Udinese

Luciano Spalletti confirms Khvicha Kvaratskhelia won’t be available for Saturday’s match against Udinese and looks forward to the meeting with his former player Andrea Sottil.

The Partenopei are the runaway Serie A leaders and host Udinese at the Stadio Maradona tomorrow in the final match of the year. Kvara won’t be available as he’s still struggling with low back pain.

“He still feels pain, so he is not available. We are sorry, but the last two teams proved that we are a proper team and not just 11 players put together,” Spalletti said at a press conference today.

“We want Kvara back as soon as possible, but we know there are other players with great quality. Perhaps not at the same level, given that many see him as the new big player in world football, but everyone knows what we need.”

Napoli stretched their lead during the midweek round, but Spalletti believes their win against Empoli and Milan‘s draw at Cremonese won’t change much.

“We are doing the same things. Our daily and weekly target is clear. We deserved to win against Empoli, playing well,” he said.

“Whatever thing we face, we must do it with our style of play, that’s everything we have. We must move the ball quickly.

“Big clubs are climbing the table, the most titled clubs are up there again, it will be a long and tough [title] race.

“I know Sottil well, I coached him, so I know his character, you could tell he would become a strong coach,” Spalletti, who coached Sottil at Udinese, continued.

“He already had a vision of the defensive phase. It’s a tough game for us. They beat Fiorentina, Roma, Inter and Sassuolo, drawing with Atalanta and Lazio. Somebody could think it’s an easy game, not my players.”

What does he make of André Zambo Anguissa’s contract extension?

“He came to me after signing his contract and said that he would be really happy only if we win. He was happy, of course, but his priority is tomorrow’s game.”