The new coach has restored self-esteem to the Scudetto group who follow him with confidence. Ancelotti’s Champions League test on Wednesday
– Naples
Do you remember Quentin Tarantino’s Mr Wolf in “Pulp fiction”, played by a splendid Harvey Keitel? In the complicated moment of the plot of a rather boring film, Walter Mazzarri is called upon to solve problems. And the Tuscan, with his wrinkles and that look of a consummate protagonist of westerns, has a cinema face. He doesn’t have the coldness of that Wolf, but in terms of decision-making ability, just look at what happened in Naples in just one match, regardless of the result. And in the city of Vesuvius the volcano of passion rekindles. Of course, on Wednesday there is a trip to Madrid against Real Madrid, but the first signs that have arrived are all encouraging, let’s try to analyze them.
Self-esteem
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Between the performance seen against Empoli and that of Bergamo there is an abyss of difference in the team’s attitude, in the desire to shorten the gap on the pitch and to help each other. Confidence and belief in one’s own abilities has returned. As soon as he arrived, Mazzarri immediately said: “This is the strongest team I have coached, I admired them on TV”, in short he exalted what this group had done, without humiliating it. Rudi Garcia tried another route, that of moving on and avoiding mentioning Spalletti. Beyond external criticism, the method did not convince the Azzurri. And the differences were evident after the match against Atalanta. With all the players immediately underlining the new coach’s positive approach. Let’s be clear: no one has ever played “against” Garcia, but motivation in sport is the driving force.
mentality
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With the few days available and most of the players in the national team, Mazzarri decided to focus on leading his players and he achieved it effectively. Kvara’s kiss at the end of the race is something that cannot go unnoticed. Khvicha and Walter have known each other for less than a week and in that particularly affectionate gesture there is esteem, recognition of leadership. And then “le petit” Anguissa. Garcia was quick to point out that the Cameroonian had been his creation in Marseille. Mazzarri didn’t have time to train him, just to talk to him and Zambo responded with a performance of substance, showing great attention to the new guide. Immediately clear signals: the ones a coach dreams of.
simplification
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Mazzarri thought above all about simplifying his players’ tasks, trying to clear their minds of complications. He put the group back on the track of play and movements that he knew well and therefore managed to carry out almost naturally. Roles and module respected and timely changes. Yes, because clear and precise signals also came from the bench. His precise choice to remove Natan was indicative, even though he was playing well, because he had already been booked and to avoid risking numerical inferiority. In the final against Milan Garcia surprised everyone by bringing in a full-back, Zanoli, for an attacking winger, Politano. And when he was asked why after the match, he replied ironically: “I knew that Natan would be sent off…”. Now it is clear that it is just one match, and confirmation will be needed on the group’s improvement. But starting well was the most important thing. Among other things, Mazzarri has already made it clear that he has some tactical measures in mind to put his stars in the most comfortable way to hit. An example: Kvara and Politano who begin to centralize and cross paths so as not to risk being always doubled up on the flanks. To make Napoli more and more unpredictable.
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