Raspadori: ‘We don’t pass the ball backwards’

Napoli forward Giacomo Raspadori explained some of the reasons behind their high-scoring season so far: ‘We don’t know back-passing, we go deep.’ The 22-year-old made the switch from Sassuolo to Napoli last summer and has become a vital understudy in Luciano Spalletti’s lineup, often featuring from the bench. Speaking with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the versatile forward discussed the reasons behind the clubs successful season so far and why he sees no limits for this team:

Why do so many strikers score repeatedly at Napoli?

“Because the football we develop from Meret’s distribution  has only one goal: the goal. We don’t know back-passing,
we go deep, we create offensive situations. Spalletti understood that, because of our characteristics, it was easier to get the result through good play”.

Is  the word ‘Scudetto’ banned among the team?….

“It would be hypocritical not to talk about it. It’s a great opportunity built through hard work every day. From the first day we put it in our heads, the mentality was the right one, the affection of the fans was crazy. We travel without ever remembering that we have a ten, fifteen point lead, thinking only of making three more points in the next game. And if the opponents lose, we don’t talk about it.”

There is also the Champions League. If there is a team that has played well in Europe it is Napoli.

‘Another great occasion. If we remain concrete and carefree, there are no limits in Europe. It’s a question of mentality, we only look at ourselves. Eintracht is a European team, always attacking, head clear. I don’t know if we are favourites, but we have everything to pass the round.”

What is Napoli, a state of mind?

‘The first thing you hear is that Naples city and the Naples team go hand in hand. They rejoice and are sad together. Nowhere is football like that. I live in Posillipo. For someone like me who is not used to it, it is incredible to get up and see the sea from home. And winter has not been here.”

Do you feel Neapolitan?

‘Yes. Perhaps always. They used to tell me I had the Neapolitan ‘cazzimma’ because of the way I was on the pitch. Spalletti perceived it immediately. Playing every three days I don’t have time to enjoy the city, I’ll do it in the summer.”

What don’t you like about Naples?

“I’m not used to its chaos, walking unnoticed is impossible, but chaos is affection. I have to have the strength to say no, otherwise I would go home every day with fifteen mozzarellas… (laughs, ed.).”