Luciano Spalletti is glad Napoli ‘showed a strong character’ to fight back from 2-0 down and hold Leicester City 2-2 in the Europa League, while explaining where Victor Osimhen needs to improve.
The Partenopei dominated possession and chances at the King Power Stadium, but paid for wasteful finishing by going 2-0 down to goals from Ayoze Perez and Harvey Barnes.
When Victor Osimhen got into gear, the opportunities were finally getting finished, scoring at the end of a wonderful team passing move and then leaping above the crowd to nod in Matteo Politano’s cross.
Europa League | Leicester City 2-2 Napoli: Osimhen comeback king
“The team started the right way, then lost the ball a few too many times building out from the back and those proved costly,” Spalletti told Sky Sport Italia.
“After that, we took the initiative throughout and it remained a perfectly balanced match. We reacted to conceding the second goal just as we were really pushing, and that was a risky situation, because we could’ve let our heads drop.
“Instead, we pushed even harder and got it back on level terms, because it frankly would’ve been unjust if we had lost this game.
“We saw today that this team has a strong character, which had been a weakness in previous years. The team reacted really well.
“I want to compliment those who came off the bench, because they proved their quality and it makes it easier for everyone, because they are not fighting to take the place of another teammate, but to play alongside him.”
Nigeria international Osimhen got the game back on track with two splendid goals, one flicked over the goalkeeper, the other a towering header.
“Osimhen still has a few things to learn and then he will become a super hitman. Comparisons are easy, but would be with some of the best forwards in the world.
“He needs to improve in the precision of his choices, both his finishing and the runs, because at times he runs for no reason.”