The coach, twice ex, will follow the match: “With the Azzurri from Serie C to A and after 10 years salvation in Bergamo”
There is an elegant young man of just turned eighty who goes around the seas and mountains enjoying the time: and whether he is on a bike (climbing peaks from Cima Coppi) or at sea (at the Barcolana), zigzagging or letting himself be lulled by his memory, he has plenty of smiles to give himself. Napoli-Atalanta is not a simple football match for Edy Reja but a vault of memories that span two eras, containing the beauty that this world can offer humanly and football-wise.
How does Edy Reja watch a match like that?
“With feeling, because I left part of myself in both cities. In Naples more so, not only because I was there for several seasons but above all for having had the honor of leading the ride from Serie C to Serie A, breaking into Europe.”
Launching Lavezzi and Hamsik, for starters.
“Marino was good at taking them, but they entered immediately: in the second round of Serie A, after losing on our debut, we went on to win 5-0 in Udine. We understood that we would have fun and so it was.”
It arrives in Bergamo in 2015…
“Exactly ten years after Naples. We were saved: there was a young Zappacosta and Papu Gomez, El Tanque Denis. Then, the following season, the first additions that would be needed later: De Roon, Freuler, Toloi, the emerging Gagliardini, but also Borriello”.
De Laurentiis and Percassi: so different, and yet…
“So similar. Both captains of industry with a very high profile. Visionaries, with strong ideas, a sense of business risk which however does not mean gambling. An ability to enrich the company’s assets through operations projected into the future.”
De Laurentiis and Percassi, both captains of industry with a very high profile. Visionaries, with strong ideas, a sense of business risk
And how will they be this time?
“They know how to navigate storms. Percassi has an extraordinary advantage: having been a footballer and therefore knowing how to smell the wind. And De Laurentiis has a natural coolness in handling danger and facing it. They are two winners.”
“I don’t know how Napoli are doing emotionally, but – it’s worth remembering – they are two points away from first place. Conte will be much better than two weeks ago: McTominay’s goal is blindingly beautiful. And Palladino, with a career as a footballer at that level behind him and such an authoritative technical impact, will not be afraid.”
Is there still something of Gasp in the Goddess?
“Of course. Then he said something wrong to Juric, but Gasperini left an amazing legacy, the triumph in the Europa League is worth the Excellence for life. But above all the particularity of his football, which has become an international model. And Roma, as we can see, learned quickly from their coach.”
Napoli must shake up too.
“The two championships in three championships represent the demonstration of the existence of a huge project by De Laurentiis. But the merits of Spalletti and Conte and Giuntoli and Manna are not in the background.”
From Conte’s outburst in Bologna to Palladino’s debut with Atalanta…
“Conte was looking for a shock, he must have grasped something and wanted to have an impact on the team’s character. Palladino brings motivation to the players.”
Conte was looking for a shock, he must have grasped something and wanted to have an impact on the team’s character. Palladino brings motivation to the players
The men of the evening for Reja?
“Easy: Hojlund, McTominay, Lookman, De Ketelaere. There are a lot of good people at Maradona.”
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