Luciano Spalletti goes on a rant about negative football after the 3-1 win over Inter, defends his Victor Osimhen decision and reiterates his status at Napoli ‘is all defined, it just needs to be announced.’
The Partenopei had special motivation today, as thanks to this 3-1 result, they have been able to beat all 19 opponents at least once in Serie A this season.
“The quality of our football is what allowed us to stand out. It was motivating for the players, because they were facing a deserved Champions League Finalist and had to prove all that we’d achieved throughout the season.
“Inter were the only team we hadn’t beaten, while the statistics are also important to get the best attack, the best defence and all the other things that consolidate our achievement.”
It was a harder slog than expected, especially considering Roberto Gagliardini was sent off after just 41 minutes for a second yellow card.
Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa opened the scoring and a second was controversially disallowed for a Piotr Zielinski challenge on Danilo D’Ambrosio just moments before Romelu Lukaku equalised.
Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s sensational curler into the top corner restored the advantage before local lad Gianluca Gaetano scored his debut goal beating on-rushing Andre Onana.
“This team doesn’t need anyone, because it knows how to play football. It was constructed well by the President and Giuntoli, with young additions who gelled to become a single team unit. There is heart, quality, spirit of sacrifice, self-belief, so it is easy to work with a squad that has all these values.
“There are some who have a little extra that a coach would never want to lose, such as the captain, Di Lorenzo.”
Napoli won their first Scudetto in 33 years, so Spalletti was asked if he expected a little more recognition.
“No, being in my position right now is easy, because people submerge you with love and affection everywhere you go. I aspired to this and would’ve liked this, so now that it has happened, it’s the best thing I could’ve asked for.”
Of course, the question was pointing towards President Aurelio De Laurentiis more than the fans, but the coach swerved it, so it was asked again.
“I am not waiting for anything, it has all been defined. All that needs doing is for it to be announced. I told De Laurentiis what I needed to say. There were no negotiations. After that dinner together, we emerged with everything sorted out.”
There was some tension during today’s game when Victor Osimhen reacted furiously to being substituted, as he still wants to score more for the Capocannoniere crown.
“He can get angry, but it’s not always the fault of the coach who makes a change. Strikers care more about goals, but there are other things a forward must contribute. It is also true that there are defenders who want to stop you scoring.
“Besides, Osimhen had a rough week, he started it with flu, then he had to go to Rome to get his driver’s licence and missed training, so he can come off occasionally. We all have players who contributed, Raspadori, Simeone and even Gaetano who deserve playing time too. I heard grumbles from the crowd too when I took off Kvaratskhelia, but he was on the verge of a thigh strain there.
“The trouble is that people talk so much about one or two players that they convince themselves we cannot win without them. That is not true, football is both simple and difficult. If you can find the solution moving the ball around, that is more pleasing for everyone, including the players.
“Anyone can sit back and wait for the opponent to come at them. There’s no tactics, you just sit there and wait. It is much more difficult to create movements and organise a pro-active approach to the game.”