Napoli is preparing to restart the championship after the defeat against Villarreal in the Champions League, with coach Massimiliano Allegri having asked for calm and concentration before the match against Venezia. In yesterday's press conference, the coach underlined the importance of managing the ball better and not letting yourself be influenced by negative episodes, remembering that even after a goal you have time to react. Allegri invited fans not to judge performances exclusively by the final result, highlighting that, even in victories, aspects remain to be corrected such as the restarts granted to opponents and the management of possession.
Among the technical issues that emerged, the offensive choice remains central. Allegri spoke about Lorenzo Lucca, who could find space from the first minute, and Rasmus Hojlund, who could benefit from a double striker to have more freedom of movement. “Lucca has important qualities and must make its contribution in terms of goals,” explained the coach, while reiterating the need to exploit the characteristics of the players available. On the defensive front, Marianucci and Beukema are back in form and considered reliable elements.
As for the squad, the good news comes from the infirmary: Frank Anguissa, Mathías Olivera and Alisson Santos will be available for the match against Venezia, while David Neres' situation remains uncertain due to physical problems. Allegri also took stock of the progress of Vergara and Favasuli, who are still far from returning, and underlined the importance of recovering all the players available in a particularly demanding calendar. “We just need to work and recover all the players available by playing every 3 days, we need everyone,” he added.
Napoli, despite the last place in the standings and the absence of points, does not underestimate Venezia. Allegri praised the new coach Davide Nicola, recalling the results obtained in the past and the qualities of the lagoon team. He also underlined the importance of adapting to the characteristics of the Penzo pitch, an environment that requires respect, humility and concentration. “Like with Fiorentina, even if they lose, it's always a difficult pitch because it's small, the ball doesn't flow much, you have to adapt to the environment because tomorrow you have to try to win,” said the coach.
Finally, Allegri played down the misunderstanding he had with Kevin De Bruyne during the match against Villarreal, defining it as "a misunderstanding in a particular moment of the match". He reiterated that while errors have occurred, it is normal for them to occur again in the future and that immediate communication is key. With the match against Venezia scheduled for tomorrow at 3pm, Napoli aims to start again with a more balanced team, ready to find solutions to the problems that have emerged and to seek victory with calm and respect.