Napoli’s recent victory over Monza has impressed former Italy national team coach Arrigo Sacchi. He praised the way Napoli dominated the field, controlled the match, and showed personality. For Sacchi, this performance confirmed Antonio Conte’s prowess as a manager and his continuous improvement, as he wrote in his column for La Gazzetta dello Sport:
“I saw Napoli beat Monza and I liked the way they did it: they dominated the field, kept control of the match, showed personality. I had proof, but honestly I didn’t need it, that Antonio Conte is a great coach and, above all, that he is constantly improving. Antonio, whom I have known since the times I called him up to the National team in the Nineties, is a very good guy, who lives for football and for work, gives his soul in everything he does.
Conte’s touch
If one looks at Napoli now, one sees his touch: there are certain movements, certain details that cannot be missed, starting with a maniacal attention in the defensive phase and a pressing that few Italian teams know how to bring with the same intensity and timing. Conte does very well to dampen enthusiasm and not want to talk about the Scudetto. He lives in a passionate city, if he throws gasoline on the fire he only does damage. It is understandable that he does not want to burden his players with responsibility, just as it is understandable that the fans are falling in love with this team. Naples loves beautiful football, since the times of Sivori, when he moved after the years at Juve, and then of Maradona, more recently of Sarri and Spalletti. Neapolitans have the game in their DNA, they want to have fun at the stadium and Conte understood this immediately. The Italian championship has found a protagonist again, because this Napoli can go all the way and has all the qualities to run for the Scudetto. It didn’t start well, in fact it had derailed at the first outing in Verona. But Conte was able to immediately restart the locomotive and position it perfectly on the tracks. From that moment on, probably after a confrontation with his boys, it was a crescendo of emotions. In addition to the usual Inter, Juve and Milan, now there is Napoli, therefore.
Torino surprise
And if I can add another team that surprised me I say Torino: maybe they don’t have the necessary experience to be at the top yet, but they play football, have courage, have ideas. In essence, this year’s Serie A can be very exciting because it’s balanced, probably the difference will be made by the commitments in the European cups. I note, however, that on the bench there are finally strategist coaches, who don’t think only about catenaccio and counterattack, but want to propose new situations, and this small beginning of revolution can only benefit the whole movement. If then we manage to find space also for young Italians, then we will be on horseback.
Conte and the team
Returning to Napoli, what struck me is Conte’s ability to bring all the players to his side. He has a lot of experience and strong charisma. He has convinced his boys to run and press to immediately steal the ball from opponents, because he knows how to play in Europe, where an evolved football is practiced that he wants to repropose here with us. The public, it’s normal, gets excited for Kvara’s dribbling or Lukaku’s accelerations, but it’s the whole team that must be applauded. It seems to me a harmonious collective, where everyone knows their role and their functions and, moreover, thanks to the principles transmitted by the coach, is willing to make themselves available to teammates, to make an extra run to help those in difficulty. In short, to sacrifice themselves. Today’s first place is nothing, of course: there are many games to play and Napoli is called to other exams. However, it is right to emphasize how, after the bad season past, in a short time with Conte on the bench Napoli has managed to find itself and have fun. I see that Lukaku, not yet at the top of his form, gives his soul every time he takes the field: this is important because it can be an example to others. Conte wanted him strongly, he knows what he can give him, maybe he participates little in the game, but he is a leader and teams need such a figure too. I repeat: the Italian championship has found a protagonist again. Napoli will fight for the title until the end.”
