Luciano Spalletti admits Napoli ‘made more mistakes than we are accustomed to’ in the 4-2 defeat to Barcelona, but also paid the price for a ‘brave’ tactical approach in the Europa League play-off.
The Partenopei never quite recovered after shooting themselves in the foot during the opening 13 minutes with two avoidable goals from Jordi Alba – on the counter from a Napoli corner – and Frenkie de Jong given too much time and space to curl in.
Lorenzo Insigne’s penalty was short-lived hope, as Gerard Pique made it 3-1 just before half-time.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Matteo Politano rounded out the scoreline.
Europa League | Napoli 2-4 Barcelona (3-5 agg): Barca simply too strong
“We have to be honest, they made far fewer mistakes than we did in possession. We made more mistakes than we are accustomed to, but Barcelona did really well in moving the ball around,” Spalletti told Sky Sport Italia.
“They were also aided by the initial incident on the corner, then De Jong curling it into the top corner, which made it all more difficult.
“When we got back into it after the penalty and were in our best period of the game, we conceded the third out of nowhere.
“It’s very disappointing, because we had a real Napoli atmosphere tonight, we worked so hard for everyone to be back here together again and it leaves us doubly disappointed. Perhaps it’s even more disappointing than the result.
“We also did some things well, but were unable to get the game back on level terms, because every time we got close to them, they’d knock us back down with a KO.”
The start showed remarkable naivete, as Napoli were caught on the counter from their own corner.
“I am always the first person responsible when the team doesn’t have the right attitude.
“Perhaps in those moments we tried to play it out from the back forcefully, but instead we didn’t find the right passes in the final third and they were very aggressive, especially down the right.
“This high press blocked our exits and after those goals, Barcelona could carry on secure in their status.”
Both Stanislav Lobotka and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa were out injured, while Diego Demme struggled badly in the first half, so was the game decided in midfield?
“There are players with more quality at doing certain things. When Lobotka is pressed, he has this way of turning on himself with the ball that can get out of tight spaces.
“When the first press is broken, you have an open field in front of you. Demme and Fabian Ruiz know how to play football, but have slightly different characteristics.
“Seeking solace in those who are not here just ends up showing a lack of faith in the players you do have.
“We made far too many mistakes and Barcelona were having a great night. When you go one-on-one with Barcelona, they will always find the right pass.
“It’s disappointing, but we have to avoid drowning in this result, because tomorrow we have to start preparing for another big match.”
With Lazio and Napoli going out of the Europa League, Spalletti was asked how he sees Italian club football on the continental stage.
“I see Italian football evolving, because building out from the back, playing with a high press, I see many teams with a more ferocious, positive and attacking approach.
“If you compare it with the financial capabilities of some foreign clubs, like Napoli with Barcelona or Lazio with Porto, we must realise that it’s a more even fight if we have all our players available. If a couple are missing, we don’t have the same resources.
“We paid the consequences this evening because we were brave and went forward to face them, we could’ve just sat back and tried to go on the counter, but we didn’t.
“We felt sure that Maradona was watching this game and we wanted to be up to the occasion.”
What a finish by Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang 🔥
That’s why Barca signed him, what a performance by Xavi’s side in Naples!#UEL pic.twitter.com/f7IF57boTm
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 24, 2022
Awful typical garbage from serie a teams in Europe . Just pathetic
Idk what the right word is to describe this performance, but it’s not ‘brave’. Send them to the gulag. Which I’ve just realised is a pretty inappropriate joke to make today, but you get the point, luciano.
Its unbielievieble terrible mentality, nothing same like these times when I became italian football fan… Mentality is totaly gonne, to be BRAVE… And be scared of team names like barsa, when you have much better quality footballers, but you are scared of team names… Like legendary FC Porto
This is the worst Barcelona team in decades, they have lost almost to everybody and yet still manage to defeat you and you call it brave.. What a shame!
How can you concede 4 times at home? It’s like they can’t be bothered. Like Lazio, who were equally disappointing. The first round of knock outs and out go the majority of the Serie A teams.
another flop! napoli & lazio crash out of EL!!! leaving only atalanta! same goes to juventus in CL!!!! serie A teams not being competitive enough in Europe for a very long time! and that I am afraid shall have its negative affect on Azzurri!!! when a team invest in youth results comes far more better than investing on useless players!!!!
Go away Spalletti ! You brought your losing ways to Napoli.