Luciano Spalletti is looking forward to tomorrow’s blockbuster Serie A clash between top of the table Milan and Napoli.
The two sides are currently tied on points at the top of the table, alongside Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta. The match could prove key in a title race this season, making a win worth more than just three points. Both Milan and Napoli are without their key attacking figures, with Rafael Leao and Victor Osimhen both ruled out of the clash.
Speaking in a press conference, Spalletti first discussed which team he thinks is better off and if he’s already planned his starting 11.
“Yes, two teams that are in good shape, it becomes to say difficult who is ahead, it’ll be the one who takes the lead on plays during the 90 minutes. These are two teams that aren’t very attentive to balance because of their desire to win games, sometimes you find high spaces and Milan know how to attack them immediately.
“Whoever manages the ball better, the more they anticipate the game, there’ll be the advantage. I’ve thought of the formation, it’s my job, and we’ll do the same as them, we play with 11 too! And then I can’t say any more, I can’t say it the day before.
“It wouldn’t be fair for the players to know today, I need more than 11 to get through the game and they all have to be motivated.”
He underlined the importance and difficulty of Napoli’s clash with Milan.
“I’m retiring! I have to do the last few years without exaggerating, at my age you have to go easy on the emotions. It’ll be a good match for Italian football, I think Pioli also said it that they are two similar teams, when I see them I notice things that I like to see and that I point out to my players.
“He has been very good at keeping the whole environment united because they have gone through difficult times, but they overcame them and they all pulled on the same side and won because of a few details.
“This year it will be like that too or even more difficult because they have the experience of last year and they have been working on it for three years, it’s the truth, they also rejuvenated a lot last year, putting together youngsters and formidable champions.”
The Napoli coach reacted to the fact that five players received call-ups to Roberto Mancini’s national team.
“I’m satisfied for the players, they deserve it. Mancini has always been attentive to up-and-coming youngsters, it’s a pleasure to see them train in this squad, they give their all in terms of muscle and breath, as for Milan they’re healthy forces because they have freshness and creativity, there you find many things if you make them work.
“On the comparison I don’t know, it’s still early. They’re the champions of Italy, they have some advantage and we will have to be good at growing quickly, more than them, because having won has given them further strength and having started well has reconfirmed them. We will have to go stronger if we want to catch them, they are ahead.”
Spalletti commented on what kind of indications tomorrow’s clash will bring.
“These are evaluations to be made afterwards, based on the performance, the attitude we will show, we must go there as we have always done this year, being even more careful with lost balls.
“Every ball lost to them, with the runs they have, they immediately turn it into an offensive action, they’re not among those who think with the ball on their feet, they attack the spaces. In order to score goals we have to bring some people up front and lost balls are fundamental for both.”
He looked back at Napoli’s busy summer transfer window.
“It was a hope, I was very curious, you could see the potential, with the club we talked about it, but to be at this point here I don’t know, it’s still very little time. It could have been different in a positive or negative sense, we have a serious squad.
“We have to be ready for the long term, the road is difficult. For the moment we are satisfied, in a good way because in football a moment is enough to change the story of a game and a team’s behaviour, especially for young ones like our team, so total concentration.”
The Partenopei coach explained why he sometimes picks Giovanni Simeone and other times deploys Giacomo Raspadori.
“One gives more depth, attacks the spaces behind the line, has more physique, the other is different, they are different because we chose them to have all the possibilities.
“Raspadori becomes more elusive when he comes to dribble, the second goal the other day tells the tale, it also depends on the characteristics of the opponents.
“Whoever goes deeper is usually more of a finisher, whoever comes to take the ball binds more, gives you more numerical superiority, these are the characteristics.
“I’m glad though, if we were dependent on Osimhen as you said? No, there are others too. If you depend on one, then how do you do without him?
“We have to get results all the same, now by raising two others who are just as strong, we’ll get the situation right for the group, we’ll need everyone.”
Spalletti discussed some of his tactical conversations with Piotr Zielinski.
“It’s a way of knowing if Zielinski plays! With Spezia the penalty taker was Politano, the second Elmas, tomorrow we’ll do the same, we’ll indicate the first and the second, but there’s always the possibility of changing according to the moment.
“But you have to have more than one penalty taker in this football with so many games and in a team with so many young players. Piotr made a mistake, the first one was well taken in my opinion, the goalkeeper did well.”
Finally, Spalletti discussed what the best position is of new arrival Tanguy Ndombele.
“He has played in all roles, to play deep play you need a grip, important quickness, to break away, a lost ball there becomes difficult to clean up.
“Lobotka’s qualities are important in that role with one mediano, he has those rotations, he is a bit slower but he is much more physical in the impact.
“He can do that role, a two-man duo would be optimal, 4-2-3-1, but the midfielder can do it like the other night, with less incursion and depth because Zielu goes all the way to the flag, he does it more centrally but he can do it, as a footballer he has all the football knowledge.
“A little bit of experience in Europe gives you that edge over your choices, we have to do that quickly too.”