Luciano Spalletti hopes the Udinese comeback can let Napoli, the fans and media realise ‘how much what they have achieved so far is not to be taken for granted,’ joking that Kim Min-jae had to prove he was ‘human.’

This was the 11th consecutive Serie A victory for the Partenopei, who temporarily go 11 points clear at the top of the table.

Yet it was tougher than initially thought, because after Victor Osimhen, Piotr Zielinski and Eljif Elmas opened up a 3-0 lead, Ilija Nestorovski and Lazar Samardzic struck twice in quick succession to set up a tense finale.

“Every victory is a struggle and the final 15 minutes of this game help to underline just how much what these lads have achieved so far is not to be taken for granted,” Spalletti told DAZN.

“I want to thank the team for a stratospheric first stage of the season, everyone from the players to the kit staff, this is a wonderful group and I owed them a public show of gratitude.

“When the stadium participates like this, the team feels even more inspired to try something exciting and fancy.

“We thought the game was over and took our foot off the gas, but the game is never over, because when you can introduce players off the bench like Nestorovski, they can find a way through if you don’t keep the tempo up.”

It was noted that this was Kim Min-jae’s worst performance of the season so far in the Napoli jersey.

“If today it makes headlines that Kim had a slip today, that makes you realise how incredible he has been so far. He has to make mistakes too, otherwise he is not human!”

Despite missing Kvicha Kvaratskhelia for a couple of weeks, Napoli have never showed the slightest dip in form.

“When I made four changes, they all came on with great determination. If I had more substitutions available, they all would’ve done the same. My job is easier if everyone accepts playing 30 minutes rather than 60 and don’t lose anything in terms of attitude or start sulking. These are great professionals.”

The coach had already registered 11 consecutive victories at Roma in 2005-06, but the all-time record remains 17 for Roberto Mancini at Inter.

There was a fan in the stands holding up a photograph of Zielinski with the message: ‘I believe.’ Does Spalletti believe too?

“He believes Zielinski can score a goal! He knows this is an extraordinary player.”

Inevitably, Spalletti has absorbed some of the superstitious habits of the Neapolitans and won’t talk openly about this Scudetto run, despite being temporarily 11 points clear.

“There are six challengers and they are all close by, because it just takes a couple of incidents, a couple of minutes to create problems. “This afternoon’s match will help us, because it hadn’t happened so far, but we need to be even more determined and committed to the end in every match.”

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