Massimiliano Allegri decided not to lodge an urgent appeal against the disqualification immediately after the stoppage caused by the sending off against Roma, opting instead for a four-day break. With this choice, Napoli will miss not only the match against Monza scheduled for 8.45pm today, but also Sunday's match against Juventus at the Olympic Stadium. The coach declared that "we can no longer change the disqualification or the result" and wanted to definitively close the matter.
Without Allegri on the bench, the responsibility of leading the team on the pitch will fall on his deputy Marco Landucci. The former Fiorentina goalkeeper, who has already led Napoli in ten matches without the coach, has achieved seven victories in the last ten matches. Landucci will have the task of leading the players on one of the most important days of the season, with Monza at home, having already met the club on three occasions: a defeat in the championship, a victory in the round of 16 of the Italian Cup and a meeting in 2022-23.
Napoli, who have won only one away match in the last two months, find themselves in a delicate position in the league table. They currently occupy tenth position with a deficit of 14 points compared to Lazio. Allegri underlined the need to improve game situations in which the team showed weaknesses, highlighting the importance of recovering injured players and optimizing the physical condition of those who have just returned to the pitch. “We have to be good and a little lucky to get positive results,” he said.
Napoli have a history of success against Monza in Serie A, with four wins from six matches, one draw and one defeat. Furthermore, Allegri has a positive streak against Juric, with ten matches in which he achieved six wins, four draws and one defeat in the first match of 2016. Despite these favorable statistics, the club is aware of the difficulties that await them in the next matches, including Sunday's match against Juventus and the Champions League match against Farioli's Porto.
With Landucci in command, Napoli prepares for a crucial day against Monza, trying to break the sequence of away defeats and consolidate their position in the standings. The result of this match could influence the club's strategy for the next matches, both in the league and in European competitions.