Allegri on Napoli's Challenges Ahead of Inter Clash
Napoli head to San Siro bruised, short-handed and staring at the side their own coach calls the “real favourites” for the Scudetto. Massimiliano Allegri, though, is in no mood for hysteria.
His team were jeered in midweek after a 2-1 home defeat to newly-promoted Como, a result that cut deep not only on the scoreboard but in the treatment room. Giovane limped off injured, and Scott McTominay has been ruled out for several weeks after surgery to correct a small heart issue. Alessandro Buongiorno and Luca Marianucci are already long-term absentees.
The mood around Naples, predictably, swung hard.
“I understand that at Napoli it’s either over-excitement or depression, but we are only in Week 3,” Allegri shrugged in his pre-match press conference.
The first question of the day had even asked if this was still a Scudetto battle at all. Allegri saw a familiar pattern.
“We’re disappointed to have lost to Como, but there must be balance, there are so many games still to be played. We didn’t even put in a bad performance, but tomorrow is a head-to-head between the top two in the last two seasons. We go forward with confidence, then we can think about Arsenal and the Champions League.”
Inter vs Napoli kicks off at San Siro on Saturday at 17.00 UK time (18.00 CEST), a meeting of recent title heavyweights that already feels like a mood-setter for the season.
Injuries bite, but Allegri flips the script
The list of absentees would spook most coaches. Allegri tried to turn it into an advantage.
“Injuries happen, but if you think that after the break for international duty there are nine matches in 26 days, it’s better to have those injuries now so everyone can recover in time for that spell.”
It was a classic Allegri pivot: zoom out, think in blocks of games, not single setbacks. The schedule after the international break is brutal; he wants a full squad for that run, even if it means patching things up at San Siro.
The injury crisis has also thrown a spotlight on youngsters such as Antonio Vergara. With McTominay sidelined and options thinning, many expect the 20-year-old to be thrust into a leading role. Allegri hit the brakes.
“I don’t think we should put too much responsibility onto the shoulders of Vergara. He’s a good player, but I think only has 12 games for Napoli, so we’ve got to take it easy,” he said. “I made a different choice against Como, he remained on the bench because I am only allowed five substitutions. We are improving physically, I am happy with how the lads are training, now we have to make fewer errors in the matches.”
The message was clear: development, not desperation.
De Bruyne waits, McTominay leaves a hole
Kevin De Bruyne’s season has started from the periphery. The Belgian has not yet started a game and is still pushing towards full fitness, a delicate process complicated by McTominay’s enforced absence.
“He is improving, but naturally I need to balance out the midfield without McTominay, as this limits the options,” Allegri explained. “Benoit Badiashile is in the squad, I’m pleased with what I saw in training. I cannot ask anyone else for what we get from Scott, so it’s a different player with different characteristics.”
McTominay’s box-to-box presence and physical edge are not easily replaced. De Bruyne offers vision and creativity, but Allegri knows the structure around him must change without the Scot’s running and defensive work.
For now, De Bruyne remains a weapon being carefully reintroduced rather than unleashed from the first whistle.
Return to San Siro, and a clear verdict on the favourites
For Allegri, Saturday is also a personal return. He was fired by Milan last summer, but left with both editions of the Derby della Madonnina against Inter in his pocket. The San Siro still stirs something.
“Playing in that stadium is always marvellous, while Inter and Napoli love to do battle. We need a good performance with fewer technical errors, because those are costly,” he said.
Then came the blunt assessment of the title picture.
“Inter are the real favourites for the Scudetto. We’ve got to be more careful, as we conceded two avoidable goals against Como. Head to head clashes are always difficult to win.”
Napoli’s summer was constrained by the need to sell before buying, while other Serie A giants spent more freely. Allegri refused to turn that into an alibi.
“There’s no point looking at the others, we need to focus on ourselves. I’m pleased with the squad at our disposal, we’ve got to lay the foundations now for what will be the final push of the season, taking one step at a time.”
San Siro will test those foundations early. With Inter looming, injuries mounting and the city oscillating between panic and euphoria, Allegri has nailed his colours to one word: balance. Now his team has to show it under the harshest floodlights in Italy.
