Luciano Spalletti explains how Dries Mertens replacing Victor Osimhen will never quite be the same for Napoli against Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio. ‘We lose in some areas, gain in others.’
It kicks off on Sunday at 19.45 GMT.
This has been a tough week for the Partenopei, who lost both in Serie A to Inter and the Europa League away to Spartak Moscow.
Above all, they lost Victor Osimhen for three months after a clash of heads that left multiple facial fractures.
The coach was irritated with suggestions Napoli would now fall apart without the Nigerian striker.
“This squad is of a certain level, we already missed Dries Mertens for the first few games and had limited midfielders available, but we still got the results we wanted,” said Spalletti in his press conference.
“We have nothing to prove, we just have to work every day and do what needs to be done. Our last few results haven’t been what we wanted, while Lazio are among the group of seven or so teams challenging for the same targets.”
Lorenzo Insigne and Fabian Ruiz are back in the side and ready to start, but Osimhen is harder to fill in for.
“Osimhen is a unique player, as he has all the qualities and characteristics of a great striker, he just needs to refine his technique. In terms of technique and positioning, Mertens rarely gets it wrong, but if he has to sprint for 70 metres or go for a header, it’s not going to be the same thing.
“We lose in some areas, gain in others, while Andrea Petagna brings different things to the table again.”
It was Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri who transformed Mertens from a winger to a centre-forward after Arkadiusz Milik’s serious injury.
“I enjoy it when there’s a striker with different characteristics, as most centre-backs will say they prefer to mark a big, powerful centre-forward rather than a little one who can run round the back,” continued Spalletti.
“Sarri organised his teams as a collective, keeping tight and weaving a web of tight passes, creating an idea of where they can hurt the opposition. It’s going to be a top level game.”
This is also a special anniversary, a year on from Diego Armando Maradona’s death, so a life-size statue will be unveiled at the Stadio Maradona.
“He was the greatest of them all, I played against him once and remember full well the problems he caused.”