Luciano Spalletti jokes Napoli critics ‘pounced’ on their rare defeat, but the team responded by beating Atalanta, though he still won’t say the word Scudetto. ‘Kim Min-jae is for me truly the best centre-back in the world.’
The Partenopei suffered only two Serie A defeats all season, 1-0 to Inter in January and 1-0 to Lazio last week, but got right back on track with this 2-0 victory over Atalanta.
Kvicha Kvaratskhelia turned defenders inside out with his slalom before Amir Rrahmani nodded in the Eljif Elmas corner.
“We had fun this week, because after 20 games without defeat, at the first loss we saw just how quickly the pack pounced onto its prey. It was incredible,” grinned Spalletti on DAZN, eager to get a few things off his chest.
Even with an expanded lead at the top of the table, the coach still refuses to take the Scudetto for granted – or even say the word.
“When you decide to accept the Napoli job, you get to know the history and the sentiments that people have for this team. With a crowd like this, you have to aim a bit higher, be more daring and have a little imagination about where you want to end up. You can’t start the season here saying you want third place, you must win.
“We all desire ‘that thing’, but there are still many games that we must play and show the same character.”
The Stadio Diego Armando Maradona crowd was truly fired up and helps Napoli to continue churning out these results.
“Kvaratskhelia has this ability in taking men on that is remarkable. If a defender turns his back on him, he is ‘dead,’ with that quality in the finishing.
“Atalanta played very well, they created problems for us in the individual battles all over the field, so the fact we scored twice and kept a clean sheet is very important. We were coming off a defeat and reacted like a top team.
“Those aggressive moves once we lose possession are fundamental to get the crowd involved and create a special atmosphere. We are all convinced that it’s right to play an attacking and modern form of football, to keep the ball even when pressed. It’s easier when you have players like Anguissa, Lobotka and Di Lorenzo.”
There were a few concerns, as Alex Meret pulled out in the warm-up with a wrist problem to be replaced by Pierluigi Gollini on his Napoli debut, and Kim Min-jae limped off with a calf issue in the final stages.
“Kim does at least 20 incredible things per game, for me he truly is the best centre-back in the world. When he starts the run with the ball at his feet, he can get it into the opposition penalty area in five seconds flat.”
This was the same calf that caused Kim Min-jae problems for South Korea in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“He’s fine, I told him not to invent anything, because tomorrow morning he’s got to be back in training!”