Maurizio Sarri maintains Napoli are “playing the same way as always” after a 1-0 loss to Juventus and joked Gonzalo Higuain cost €90m for three points.
Higuain got the only goal of the game at the Stadio San Paolo this evening, ending their unbeaten record for the season.
“A tired team cannot pin Juventus back into their own half for 70 minutes,” the Coach told Mediaset Premium.
Maurizio Sarri maintains Napoli are “playing the same way as always” after a 1-0 loss to Juventus and joked Gonzalo Higuain cost €90m for three points.
Higuain got the only goal of the game at the Stadio San Paolo this evening, ending their unbeaten record for the season.
“A tired team cannot pin Juventus back into their own half for 70 minutes,” the Coach told Mediaset Premium.
“If we were able to keep them there for that long, it means we moved the ball well. The problem is that our forwards are fatigued and we didn’t turn all this possession and dominance into goals.
“We allowed Juventus a couple of counter-attacks and that’s it. Unfortunately, we don’t have many other options in attack and we cannot use a different system for the closing stages because Dries Mertens is the only centre-forward.”
Now Juve are only one point behind Napoli, while Inter can go top with a win against Chievo on Sunday.
“Inter and Juventus are considerably stronger clubs than Napoli, so it’s normal they are up there. It would be presumptuous for us to start a season and claim we were Scudetto favourites. We lost in Serie A after nine months, it can happen.
“We are playing the same way as always, we are just at this moment struggling to turn the chances into goals.”
Lorenzo Insigne went off with an injury, but Sarri reveals it was not muscular, but rather a recurring issue.
“Since returning from international duty, Insigne had an inflammation of the groin area and it is irritating him. With the Arkadiusz Milik injury, perhaps Mertens is playing too much, but we don’t have other options.”
Sarri was asked if Napoli felt the pressure of the occasion too much after conceding Higuain’s goal 13 minutes in.
“I honestly didn’t get the impression of a team that was too tense, before, during or after the match. In recent games we’ve always needed 10-15 minutes to get going, but we conceded here on the counter.
“Pipita is a phenomenon in that type of situations. Juventus have €90m less in the bank, but an extra three points. There was a club that paid the release clause. I know Juventus are not loved in Naples, but while Gonzalo was with us, he behaved impeccably.”
The Napoli tactician commented on the bizarre choice of third kits for both teams in this massive match.
“I am very sad for two reasons today, which is for the Napoli fans, and one for me, because I thought I’d die before I saw a Napoli v Juventus with grey jerseys against yellow. It hurt, as it hurt I imagine for those who grew up with Panini stickers and with attachment to club colours. It made me profoundly sad.”