“In Napoli no one is ever stuck in his position, remember Liverpool”
Alla Gazzetta: “He always attacks vertically, with actions that are not difficult but set up in perfect synchrony and long in training”
![Sacchi: Sacchi:](https://www.ilnapolista.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Di_Lorenzo-Bergwijn_Image-Sport.jpg)
La Gazzetta dello Sport interviews Arrigo Sacchi. The former coach is thrilled with the Naples by Luciano Spalletti and has never made a mystery of it so far. A few days ago he declared, always rosy, that if Napoli remains humble he can even reach the Champions League semifinal. Today I die:
«In an Italian football, where tactics and cunning are the main weapons, looking for a spectacle like Napoli is a point of merit. Few teams in Europe are on the pitch and move like Spalletti’s. Really good: players, and coach ».
Analyze how Napoli’s offensive maneuver develops.
«We must start from a concept: the distance between attack and defense must never exceed 20-25 meters. In this way there is collaboration, there is communication and you get to the internalization of the game more quickly. Napoli attacks in eleven and defends in eleven: it is not cheap. The lateral actions almost always move vertically, there are rarely touches except to find the right opening. Basically, receiving an attacker comes to meet the ball carrier and another throws himself into the space for the deep pass. They are not difficult movements, but perfect synchronization and long work in training are suitable ».
These movements disorient the opposing defenses.
“Exactly so. Opposing defenders are always worried about these quick movements because they know they can be attacked from behind. If, on the other hand, a horizontal ball possession is practiced, the rearguards have time to settle down and close in all the holes ».
Sacchi continues:
«In modern football, receiving the set ball means surrendering to the opponent: Napoli does not run this risk. It is a “movementist” team, no one is ever stuck in their position ».
Even at Roma Spalletti had tried these vertical attacks, but, explains Sacchi, Roma were not as ordered as Napoli.
«Yes, but Roma were not as coordinated as this Napoli. The departments were very distant, there was no communication. Here, however, Spalletti is doing something truly modern, I would say. Indeed: something European. At times, for the way of attacking, he recalls Klopp’s Liverpool, when the Reds had more desire to run and get out of the way than they have now … This is made possible for Spalletti because he has intelligent, available players who bring enthusiasm and will in work “.
Sacchi indicates the only risk that Napoli runs.
“There is a risk that everyone will feel they have already arrived. Now they are a collective and they play as a collective. If they change, don’t be so beautiful. “