Luciano Spalletti explains those surprising tactical choices to beat Milan and why the Napoli coach was wearing football boots on the touchline. ‘I wanted to play!’
This victory can be credited to the coach, because he was missing many key players and made some surprise picks, using Andrea Petagna upfront rather than Dries Mertens.
It paid off, because Eljif Elmas nodded in a Piotr Zielinski corner after just five minutes and that proved the winner.
Franck Kessie had equalised in stoppages, but it was disallowed when Olivier Giroud’s offside position was considered to be active.
“What really made me happy was to see we didn’t get too deep until the final five minutes, we kept the balance right even after taking the lead,” Spalletti told DAZN.
“It became difficult in the final minutes when Olivier Giroud added his presence to the physicality of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Physicality is fundamental in football, but we had chances to go 2-0 up, perhaps better than Milan’s chances, and we played like a great team against a great opponent.”
Milan seemed to take back control of the initiative after Petagna was replaced by Mertens.
“I could’ve left Petagna on for longer, but he started to suffer from cramp. The issue is, if you can’t build out from the back, you need Petagna there to hold up the ball.
“If we had played out from the back better, we could’ve sent the three short strikers into space and really finish off the game, as Milan were losing their balance and had opened up for the long ball. Unfortunately, we didn’t give them the service that they required and so didn’t get the second goal.
“We wanted to press Milan when they start the moves, because otherwise Ibrahimovic can create something from the edge of the box.
“Aside from a few moments, we held the initiative well. Milan were aggressive and did not allow us to find spaces, but Stanislav Lobotka helped in the second half, because he has this way of turning back on himself in these tiny spaces and getting away.
“He’s very much like David Pizarro, he makes you think he’s turning one way and then immediately spins and goes the other. You can’t catch him!
“I was pleased we worked so hard as a unit, that everyone was so eager to do something for Napoli. Players don’t ask for anything, they put themselves at the disposal of the team.
“We were coming off two defeats, so enthusiasm risks dissipating and that can make it feel like your shirt is made of lead. But we did well to hold up under that pressure.”
Spalletti also made a surprise with his footwear, as he was on the touchline wearing football boots.
“I wanted to play tonight! I’ve never been able to play on a pitch like this, with players of this calibre!”
He’s the best and funny as well.
love this man!
‘dismantle’ STO C**** 😂😂😂 Dismantle what? Napoli like Milan literally did nothing. Bar the corner, Maignan like Ospina had virtually nothing to do.
Dismantle?? This match 9 out of 10 times would end in a drawn as the two teams did absolutely nothing
Spalletti living up to his nickname: Lucky Luciano 😀
Fans in Milan & Turin just can’t except loss and competition in Serie A, when there teams are outplayed and the refs are biased. They still cant believe they can’t lose to Naples, or Sassuolo or Venezia or Fiorentina or..
It’s a more competitive league so get used to it.
You Lost plain and simple.Grow up.