Luciano Spalletti felt that ’95 minutes of battling blow for blow’ would be needed in Napoli’s upcoming match against Atalanta.
The Partenopei cannot afford to drop any more points now as they sit three points behind league leaders Milan, so a victory against Gian Piero Gasperini’s side is a must if they want to keep up the pressure on the Nerazzurri, as well as fend off a hungry Inter side.
Speaking in a press conference today, Spalletti first discussed the importance of tomorrow’s game against Atalanta.
“Whoever drops a bit in the 95th minute loses because they know how to maintain a high level of strength, quality and pace.
“They are a well-built team, as they have been for years, and in these matches here you don’t just need a play, a feint, but 95 minutes of battling blow for blow, this will be the match.”
He touched on Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar and the issues plaguing youth football in Italy.
“He has brought young people for the future, he won a very important title, then you can make a mistake in a game as it happened, but the quality of the game, of the midfield, of many that he brought is under everyone’s eyes.
“There is room for improvement, as always, we are behind in terms of stadiums and facilities, and in order to work at our best we need them, countries depend on infrastructures, owned stadiums are fundamental, then there is the cultural problem of trying to win since the youth football.
“It is an obsession since the early years, only goals count, not allowing mistakes, we do not allow to bring out the quality but we aim to win the tournament immediately.
“A good youth sector is not measured by the tournaments won, but by how many you grow to a certain level. But I hear people talk about the game, but that’s a game, the result always comes from a well constructed game, but this is subjective…”
The Napoli coach commented on his respect for Gasperini.
“Yes, just look at what Gasp has brought to Europe and you can extend compliments to the whole club, they’ve renovated the stadium, they put on a good show. If we’re here, it’s because we’ve won so many games without a full squad and if we’ve managed to do it two, three and four times, we can do it five and six times.
“If you don’t put a state of emergency on us, we’re very happy. The game in some moments will change from the ground shaking under your feet, when you play against these guys it’s normal, they always go the same way until the end.
“But we have also put back very difficult moments during the season, I am happy and confident with the look on my players’ faces in the locker room. I’ll use Koulibaly’s words, ‘we’re all Neapolitans until the end’ and we better feel the desire to go and write our own path. It says a lot.”
Spalletti discussed forward Victor Osimhen, who will not be taking part in tomorrow’s match. It was reported today that he would be returning home from international duty a little later than the rest of the squad.
“Today I’m happy that you’re giving us a big space in the Gazzetta, even a mention on the front page. Covid, capital gains, Alemao, Osimhen and the locker room against each other.
“Even talking about the match would have given you a complete picture! You have to be careful to play the three-card game with the fans, who can easily find you out. The club will talk about Osimhen tomorrow, to clarify, it’s very simple.”
Finally, Spalletti spoke about Lorenzo Insigne’s mood following Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup.
“Lorenzo every time I see him in the same way, they say he may be upset by the situations, it may be, but in the way of being together with the team and with me he never shows it.
“He always comes among the first, he is available and joyful with everyone and in training he shows things that he didn’t show in the game and this a bit sorry that he can’t repeat them.”
#Spalletti: «Di #Osimhen e delle #plusvalenze parlerà la società domani nel prepartita»
In conferenza stampa: «Io so il numero di calciatori denunciati come Covid dai nostri dottori, numero superiore a quello di tutte le altre squadre» https://t.co/sbYo6tQ8q9
— il Napolista (@napolista) April 2, 2022