Napoli coach Francesco Calzona admitted responsibility for the club’s poor form but called on the players to show ‘motivation and pride’ in their coming clash with Roma.
The Partenopei have been unable to generate any consistency since the arrival of the Slovakia coach back in February, managing just three wins across his first nine Serie A games in charge. Their last outing was an infuriating 1-0 loss away to Empoli.
Calzona is widely expected to leave Napoli when his contract expires at the end of June, allowing Aurelio De Laurentiis to bring in a replacement. A number of possible candidates have been linked with the job, including Gian Piero Gasperini and Antonio Conte.
Calzona takes responsibility
Speaking in a press conference via TMW, Calzona first reflected on Napoli’s recent difficulties and if he expects a reaction.
“Up until now we had always created a lot by scoring, but the result in Empoli told us we also had offensive problems.
“I pointed this out to the boys who were very disheartened, but we have a duty to work on the pitch and try to improve and finish the season in the best way, we owe it to the city.
“Training went well, we started subdued but it was predictable, we grew, today I saw that the right enthusiasm has also returned. We have to take responsibility, that’s why I’m here, first and foremost I have to take it, then they go on the pitch, and I hope that pride comes out.
“We play against a team in excellent condition, they are doing very well, they won yesterday too, and I expect a great match for motivation and pride.”
He was asked about the fight for a Champions League spot.
“We threw away opportunities to get back into the important league spots, but now we can’t make plans and we have to think game by game.
“Our future no longer depends on us, but also on our opponents and I asked the boys to think only about Roma and then we’ll see what comes out.”
Calzona touched on what he wants to see against Napoli.
“I want to see the performance, both when in possession and when not, players who chase the opponents with anger, the thing that has been missing lately.
“I hope to see this, with the performance also come the results, I want to see character, desire to win the match.”
He was asked if two days of retreat would be enough to break the mental block.
“No, two days of retreat are due because we need to be together as much as possible. It’s a choice agreed with the club, I agreed, being away from the family can make you realize that we are missing in Empoli in many ways of view, the retreat is just to be together, not punitive, but productive.”
Calzona spoke about his defence’s difficulties with long balls and the criticism from the fans.
“It’s a problem of defending the goal, not of long balls, we also conceded low goals with balls put behind, see with Inter. We conceded goals one-on-one, like Djuric, with Cerri there were two of us but badly positioned.
“It’s a question of positioning but like in Milan there were no midfielders to cover, and we work hard on this. We lack the desire to not concede goals, it doesn’t just depend on the defenders, but on the team.
“I have no words, I’m always present at away games, at home it’s always full, there’s no point in asking the fans to support us, we have to push them to support us. I’m sorry to see the stadium and our sections full and we perform below standard, it bothers me a lot.”
Calzona commented on if he’d be satisfied if the club secured qualification to the Europa League or the Conference League.
“In my opinion it is wrong to make the comparison with Napoli last year, let’s think about Napoli this year.
“I never say it, but the data that tells us that we have improved many things, with the ball at our feet, but many, many, we play more balls in the area, possession but sometimes sterile, but a lot of numbers, I don’t like to talk about it, but I rely a lot on the numbers.
“The problem is the goals conceded but at the end of the year I judge my work since I arrived and based on what he did this year, not with last year otherwise it’d all be a failure.
“I will compare my management at the end of the year, and I will have no problem saying so publicly if I have done badly.”
Calzona spoke about any structural problems at Napoli.
“The president also said that there are problems, if I’m not mistaken, something under construction didn’t go right. Those who arrived to replace important players like Lozano, Kim, Elmas then in the running, didn’t have much impact but It’s not even their fault because it’s a particular season.
“I expected to encounter fewer problems, but after two or three days I realized that there were more than expected.”
He was asked who should take responsibility for this season.
“Everyone, the players cannot help but hold themselves responsible, they’re on the pitch in the end.
“I make the choices based on what I see during the week, I feel that there are sacrificed players, but apart from three, Mazzocchi, Dendoncker and Natan the rest had space, more than we think, so they must feel responsible, and they had the space to show off.
“I tell them every day that we are the first ones responsible, me and them, the club was close to me.
“The president himself, he has never had a negative impact, he takes an interest every day, he is very nice, polite and respectful towards me, he asks me many things, but it is normal for a head of a company.”
Calzona discussed if all the talk regarding the club’s future had proved distracting.
“No, we are professionals, they also pay us well to do this, what we wanted to do as children, but there are also negative sides and in times of difficulty we talk about new players, directors, coaches, but it’s your job.
“It’s a moment in which things are not going and we have to live with it, the news I hear doesn’t bother me at all, it’s normal, the work must be questioned and the same for the players, if you don’t perform it’s normal for the club to take measures for the next season.”
Calzona spoke about if the team seemed motivated.
“In Empoli I saw a lack of desire to win, we didn’t have a shot on target, we conceded two chances, and it surprised me because it was the first time, with Frosinone we had created a lot by missing chances in the area, until Empoli I hadn’t had this feeling of lack of desire.
“From Empoli yes, before instead the lack of not conceding goals wasn’t a question of tactics, but of attention, desire to go beyond the mistake and make a run not foreseen in training to recover the ball and save the team.
“We miss this, I never see the extra run-up, it’s not an excuse but I didn’t think there were any problems up to this point in this troubled season, but it doesn’t mean ending with this trend, we have to react, I’m not into that and I told the boys.”
Calzona was asked why Napoli lack pressure up front.
“When we lose the ball, we struggle to get back into shape and get back in front of the ball, it’s the worst thing, we’re missing a pass, but there must be a perception of the danger, getting back immediately behind the line of the ball.
“In mentality I always ask to defend up front, but in some moments, they don’t do it, maybe they’re spending too much, they can create density, but not in our half of the pitch.
“I showed the team some moments where without Osimhen, who was out leaving us with 10, they made an excellent density, but in the last few games instead… with 11 against 11 we don’t perceive the danger. Why do we do it well with 10, with the opponents never moving forward, and not with 11?”
Finally, Calzona discussed the dangers of Daniele De Rossi’s Roma.
“De Rossi’s management beyond the points leads them to score a lot, they have great physicality, they are strong on inactive balls, there are many things to worry about. But if we play as Napoli, we also have our weapons.
“They verticalize very centrally, we have to avoid letting this blessed ball pass us inside, it could become fatal, they also won yesterday in the final minutes, they have important objectives.
“It’s a difficult match but now we have to find ourselves beyond the opponent and get out of this situation!”