the push of the “first time”
It is true that comparisons cannot be made between very different footballing eras, such as that of Napoli’s first scudetto and the one the team is experiencing today, which after 15 games is in command of the standings with an advantage of 8 points over defending champion Milan . But there is a point of contact: even that of ’87 was a team in which there were few players who had won a title, indeed there was only one.
It was goalkeeper Claudio Garella, who had landed in Naples a few weeks after winning the Scudetto with Verona, the very team against which Maradona had made his debut in Serie A. There were no others. Ottavio Bianchi – also in his first title in ’87 – managed to create a group of great quality, very united and stimulated by the historic goal. Sure, there was the absolute leader, but what really counted – and Diego underlined it too – was the harmony that reigned on the pitch and in the locker room. And this is the key that could be successful in the coming months.
The desire for the “first time” can compensate for a lack of experience in terms of successes, the one that the second Arrigo Sacchi risks being decisive in the final sprint for the Scudetto. Other times Napoli have become overwhelmed by anxiety and have not been able to manage a positive moment, but this time it could be different.
Spalletti has won two titles but in Russia, sitting on the bench of Zenit St. Petersburg. In his team there are seven players who have won 13 titles and none in Italy. Sirigu was in PSG four times French champion. Two first places for Kim in South Korea (Jeonbuk Hyundai), Lozano (one in Mexico with Pachuca and one in Holland with PSV) and Rrahmani in Croatia (Dinamo Zagreb). A title for Juan Jesus in Brazil (Internacional), Olivera in Uruguay (Nacional) and Lobotka in Slovakia (Trencin).