Luciano Spalletti feels ‘the time for words is over’ as Napoli prepare to face Hellas Verona, a game where ‘defeat would be fatal’.
The Partenopei currently sit 3rd in the Serie A table, three points behind league leaders Milan, who beat them 1-0 last weekend at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. A loss again tomorrow against the Gialloblu would likely end their Scudetto ambitions, considering the number of games left and the form of the two Milanese clubs.
Speaking in a press conference today, Spalletti first discussed the title race and the importance of tomorrow’s match against Verona.
“The time for words is over, we will evaluate how much they have helped in the end, how much they have entered inside our heads. Tomorrow will be an honest game, we will be there with our responsibilities, our talent, our fears, this game is worth a lot and we know that.
“The result of this match will tell us where our thoughts will be, a defeat would be fatal and everything is encapsulated in what we want to do with our careers.”
The Italian coach commented on the impact of the defeat against Milan last weekend and if it’s forced him to tinker with his tactics in the Campania capital.
“It’s a game I’ve watched more than others, I feel that Milan will fight for the Scudetto right to the end and they first of all tried to stop Napoli from performing as usual.
“It didn’t take away our confidence, we did some good things against Milan, especially at the beginning, then we were conditioned by this goal and our reaction wasn’t at its best, but it’s a goal we’ve allowed a few times, not being good at guarding the boundary on rebounds and it’s part of that quality we have.
“We are less interested in the dirt of the game and we are perhaps more oriented to technique and quality, but then in tomorrow’s match if we can’t use that poison of ours, putting it on our sense of team building.
“We need to show that we also have a body, available to a physical clash because our opponent is well trained, Tudor is a great coach, good at giving battle, but there is also quality of collective, of construction, of play between the lines, of those who attack the line and the depth.”
Finally, Spalletti discussed Dries Mertens and if the Belgian veteran can be a key figure in the attack alongside Victor Osimhen. Mertens has only played 879 minutes of Serie A action this campaign.
“Everything is taken into account, also because we have recovered the squad and it is easier even if something always happens, like to Meret, and we are in debt.
“It may be possible to change something from now to the end, we have more players available and those injured have done a correct preparation to play more minutes and therefore it is correct what you say.
“I have a clear enough picture of the formation at the end of the week, but in this case I’ll have one doubt until tomorrow. Just one.”
Napoli, Spalletti: "Una sconfitta contro il Verona potrebbe essere fatale. Gara che vale molto" https://t.co/DexoQo4tQH
— TUTTOmercatoWEB (@TuttoMercatoWeb) March 12, 2022