Luciano Spalletti explains why Napoli are not yet Scudetto contenders despite their new signings and potential arrival of Keylor Navas too. ‘We have less experience and probably less character than before.’
The game with Monza kicks off on Sunday at 17.30 UK time (16.30 GMT) at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Their season began with a thumping 5-2 victory away to Hellas Verona, which was before the club signed Giovanni Simeone, Giacomo Raspadori and Tanguy Ndombele.
“The fact we made the fans and media satisfied could help the players to become a stronger team than last season and push that process along,” said the coach in his press conference.
“We already worked with the 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation last season, so we know that with Raspadori or not, those systems can be interchangeable. We signed Raspadori because he can give us something different to the players we already had.”
However, Spalletti also shrugged off suggestions these new buys made Napoli Scudetto contenders.
“It was necessary to bring these new players in, but our team has less experience, fewer Champions League appearances, fewer international caps and probably less character, so we need to fight to get those qualities back. After all, Kalidou Koulibaly is now one of the top three defenders in the Premier League.
“All the top teams reinforced on the transfer market this summer, I don’t know who strengthened the most. We were already a surprise last season.”
Ndombele arrives on loan with an option to buy from Tottenham Hotspur for circa €32m.
“He can fill many different midfield roles, but the thing that pleased me the most was how enthusiastic he was to accept the Napoli offer. His desire to join us made the difference during negotiations.
“Ndombele is a complete player, can do forward runs, pick a vertical pass for those who attack the space, can play his way out from a crowd. He prefers to run forward than track back, but that can be taught.”
Tomorrow’s opponents Monza are in their first ever Serie A campaign, having been revived from bankruptcy by former Milan chiefs Silvio Berlusconi and Adriano Galliani.
“Monza had 13-14 new signings, built a strong team and this isn’t just a newly-promoted side, but run by people who made history of Italian football. That’s how they convinced players like Andrea Ranocchia, Gianluca Caprari, Stefano Sensi, Matteo Pessina and Andrea Petagna to join them. Petagna did well for us, he’s a great professional and the only reason he left was the desire to play more regularly.”
There is one area where Napoli are still busy on the transfer market and that is in goal, where Alex Meret is not considered reliable and Salvatore Sirigu was signed as an understudy.
Negotiations continue with PSG for Keylor Navas, while Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga is another option on loan.
“We need two strong goalkeepers and at the moment we have those, but clearly the situations could change. It’s not my role to ask, so I just want to focus on training the players at my disposal.”