Napoli Manager Happy That The Team Has Rediscovered Themselves As The Injuries Continue To Pile Up
Written By Onyeka Daniel
It hasn’t been a great first half of the season for reigning champions of the Italian League, Napoli as they spent the last week in a training retreat, both as punishment for one point from three rounds and to help the squad recreate the unity they had lost since taking the Scudetto last season.
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They required a last minute goal to grab all three points today and their manager, Walter Mazzarri insists that the team has ‘rediscovered the spirit and the style of football’ in their last-gasp win over Salernitana, assuring the training retreat ‘was productive.’ It didn’t seem to have worked when they went behind to an Antonio Candreva stunner into the far top corner, cancelled out by the Matteo Politano penalty.
However, jeers turned to cheers at the Stadio Maradona when Amir Rrahmani fired in at the end of a chaotic situation at the 96th minute. “I think we rediscovered both the spirit, but also the organisation and style of football. It was not easy against a Salernitana side that defends deep and is dangerous on the counter-attack,” Mazzarri told DAZN in his post match interview.
“We conceded at their first chance, so considering the way things have been going lately, that was a nasty blow. I was instead so pleased to see the lads stayed calm, kept playing and with opportunities, possession etc, we fully deserved the victory. “In the first half, we did not have enough vertical passes, but you must understand Gianluca Gaetano had his first start this season, while Cajuste still needs to adapt to our style of football. There were many variables that meant the Salernitana goal could demoralise us.
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“Instead, we created numerous chances and had lots of possession, had control of the game. The defeat to Torino felt like an aberration, because even when we lost the other matches, we still played a certain kind of football, whereas against Torino we were not there.” There were also concerns when Cajuste pulled up clutching the back of his leg and it is feared he suffered a hamstring strain.
“I am quite worried, to be honest. He said that he really felt the muscle pull, so in these situations, we may well have to wait for him a while.” Another boost for Napoli today was seeing players come off the bench and make a positive contribution. “We did well to prevent Salernitana going on the counter by winning the ball back immediately. That was something Napoli had done very well last season and we needed to recapture that skill. We have started to do that now.
“Candreva scored an extraordinary goal, he has that kind of thing in his locker, but otherwise we allowed Salernitana very little.” Napoli now prepare for the Supercoppa Italiana in its new Final Four format, so they face Fiorentina in Thursday’s semi-final, followed by Inter against Lazio.
“I will start thinking about the Supercoppa from tonight. I think it was a productive training retreat because we actually got to train on the pitch and we hadn’t done that for a long time. I believe you could see the difference today. “The main focus was to get back to winning ways after the recent setback.”
Mazzarri was asked about potential reinforcements on the January transfer market. “I do not mention players who are not on the Napoli books. Our club, President and directors are involved in the scouting process and will try to bring the best possible players, a coach cannot say anything beyond that.”
The injuries are piling up for the Partenopei ahead of the Supercoppa Italiana, as Piotr Zielinski pulled out of the Salernitana match and Jens Cajuste pulled up with a suspected hamstring strain. The Partenopei were already down to the bare bones after Victor Osimhen and Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa went on international duty to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Natan, Alex Meret and Mathias Olivera are also out injured. Zielinski was ruled out of the squad at the last minute by a minor muscular problem that will require more tests. Cajuste started instead and Napoli doctors fear the worst after he pulled up mid-tackle screaming and clutching the back of his thigh. It would appear to be a hamstring strain and he hobbled off, replaced by Diego Demme. It was Demme’s first appearance of the season, as he has long been outside the project and waiting to find a new club.
Meanwhile…
Pippo Inzaghi was furious after Salernitana’s last-gasp defeat to Napoli, just days after a similar loss to Juventus. ‘We demand respect, there was a foul on the winning goal.’ “It is very disappointing, but we are on the right track. I could not have asked for more from these lads and we did not deserve to lose,” said Inzaghi in a press conference.
“We are penalised in every game and after a while it is starting to irritate us. It is time for people to show respect to Salernitana. “I was booked without having done anything, and seeing as I was already on a yellow card, I will be suspended. I am not even allowed to talk, that is not fair. “I demand respect for me, for Salernitana and for my players. When that happens, then we will stop complaining.”
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Inzaghi was carded for protesting the penalty, which was awarded for Federico Fazio catching the back of Giovanni Simeone’s ankle as they both went for the ball. This type of situation has always been given as a penalty in Serie A this season and was spotted by the VAR. “It is a VAR style penalty, which is fine, but it would never be given by a referee on the field.
“Just like Diego Demme’s foul during the Napoli goal should’ve been flagged up by the VAR. He knocked my player in the head, a player that would’ve cleared that ball.” Demme nodded down the ball for Rrahmani to take a touch and turn in from six yards. “That isn’t all, it is the attitude of referees I do not like. The moment I raise my arm, I get a yellow card without even saying a word. I never disrespected anyone in my career, as a player and a coach, so I demand respect from others.
There has to be a dialogue between coaches and officials, otherwise we feel like we’re taken for a ride. “It’s not fair because we make great sacrifices, we play great performances and want to lose only when it is right. We are not sacrificial lambs. “We could’ve brought the result home today, we take responsibility for our mistakes, but this is the right path and if we play with this spirit, we will stay in Serie A.” He further added.
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