Luciano Spalletti insists Napoli fans must not fear the team will be sated by success after a 4-0 demolition of Torino, while he is eager to spread the praise beyond Victor Osimhen and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia.
The Partenopei are now temporarily 21 points clear at the top of the Serie A table, awaiting the results of the Rome Derby and Inter–Juventus this evening, after making short work of Toro at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino.
“We are hungry and once again today when I went to speak to the players before the game, I got the real feeling of how much they care, that they are made of something different to those who could be sated by success,” Spalletti told DAZN.
“They want to be something, to be someone. There is a Neapolitan saying: ‘Those who are hungry don’t feel sleepy.’ That sums up our team.”
Napoli are not just running towards the Scudetto, but also set up a Champions League quarter-final against Milan, with Inter or Benfica ahead in the potential semi-final.
The second Osimhen goal was a thing of beauty, working from midfield all the way out, with a Kvaratskhelia back-heel flick, Matias Olivera cross and Osimhen header at the back post.
“It’s not just those two, but the others as well. In the third goal, everyone thinks about the Kvaratskhelia back-heel, but if we look carefully, the move started with Di Lorenzo, who had a stratospheric performance. He is a real champion.”
There was also a strong run from centre-back Kim Min-jae to spark the situation leading to a Kvaratskhelia penalty, as Spalletti wanted to spread the credit.
“Kim, Lobotka, Di Lorenzo and Anguissa are always ready. A coach will not easily leave them out. I’ve seen frankly few players able to do what Kim does.”
This also explains why Spalletti is so reticent to rotate the squad, even if Tanguy Ndombele did come off the bench this afternoon to find the net with his debut Serie A goal.