Spalletti: ‘Napoli in ideal condition to face Juventus’

Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti believes the Azzurri are in ideal condition to face Juventus ad is prepared for anything against the Old Lady.

Napoli host the Bianconeri at the Stadio Maradona tomorrow. The Azzurri won both their opening two Serie A games of the season, while the Bianconeri have only collected one point so far.

“Those like me who have dreamed of football since childhood have dreamed of these great matches, the taste of rivalry, the taste of the important challenge,” Spalletti said at a press conference.

“It’s what even the players, being Napoli players, want to do, go out and play. We are in the optimal situation, the one we have always dreamed of.”

Juventus can go eight points behind Napoli if they lose, but Spalletti doesn’t seem to care about the table now.

“It’s a game I don’t like to play because it puts me at a psychological disadvantage,” he said.

“Defeats create the conditions for growth, while victories spoil a little. We need to remain balanced, have motivation without being presumptuous.”

Does he expect Juventus to use a three or four-man defence?

“I expect both, Juventus have the right players to change their system during the game and modern football is teaching us that scenarios can change really quickly.

“Bonucci, Chiellini and De Ligt can play in a three-man defence. We need to be ready to face different moments.”

Napoli are also dealing with South American players coming back from their international duty.

Most of them will return to their clubs just in time for the weekend action, while Juventus have decided to omit their South American players from the team that will travel to Napoli.

“I agree with the President when he says that these things should be changed,” said Spalletti.

“It’s going to be a matchday that affects the teams. It’s a bit like when you go to the theatre and you don’t find the best actors on the stage.”

Spalletti confirmed Dries Mertens and Faouzi Ghoulam are among the unavailable players, but they are not the only ones.

Allegri confirms Juventus’ South American players and Chiesa out of Napoli clash

“Most of our players are feeling well, some are tired because of their international games. We know they want to help their national teams,” the coach admitted.

“We must assess Zielinski and others, but then there is another group of players who has trained, is feeling well and can make an important contribution”.

Napoli’s new signing André Zambo Anguissa is expected to start against the Bianconeri tomorrow.

“He showed his level immediately from the way of entering the locker room and say hi to his teammates,” Spalletti said.

“He will be very useful because he has qualities that other players don’t have. He is the player we were looking for to complete the midfield.

“Lately, we’ve played with a regista and two mezzali, but we’ve prepared something different too. We worked on a two-man midfield, but it depends on the players’ characteristics.

“Lobotka is injured and it’s annoying because we had organized everything in a way. Demme is out of action too, but I am convinced Fabian or Anguissa can play in a certain area of the pitch if they are asked to.