Napoli is preparing for its first Champions League match against Villarreal, with coach Massimiliano Allegri expressing his vision on the match and on the management of the squad. According to Allegri, the match is crucial: "We have to try to score points because it's the second Champions League match, against Villarreal it won't be easy because they're a tough team and they're coming off a good match against Real." The coach underlined the importance of not relying on rigid formations, defining them as "bar talk rather than pitch talk", and reiterated that he has a squad of high-level players, even if some are still recovering from injuries. “It will take some time to get them back to 100%, we will have to be lucky in management to give them a chance to recover,” he added, anticipating the ready availability of Anguissa and Alisson.
As regards the composition of training, Allegri declared that he has not yet defined the starting eleven. "It's possible that McTominay starts from the first minute, but I haven't yet decided on the eleven. Tomorrow morning I'll try to imagine the match also in light of the changes," he explained. The coach expressed a certain openness to the rotation of players, stating that he is not in favor of a "routine thing" and that he prefers change based on the availability and characteristics of the players. “Things of habit bother me a bit, I like change,” he added.
Allegri also spoke about the potential of McTominay and DeBruyne, both considered players of great value. "Good players have to play together. McTominay hasn't played for a while, DeBruyne arrived on August 5, we need time," he said. The coach underlined the need to give them the opportunity to integrate into the team and make the most of their talent. In this sense, the match against Villarreal represents an important opportunity to test the tactical compatibility and ability to adapt of the two players.
In summary, Allegri has outlined a flexible game strategy oriented towards maximizing available resources, while recognizing the difficulties of a team facing a high-level opponent. The match against Villarreal promises to be a decisive moment for Napoli, who will try to consolidate their position in the group stage of the Champions League and demonstrate the solidity of their squad, even in the presence of injuries and new arrivals. The result of this match will be a key indicator for the European season of the Neapolitan club.