Sacchi judges Napoli-Juventus: with Count Azzurri da Scudetto

Impressive proof of Napoli, especially in the second half. At the disadvantage of a goal, after the interval, Conte’s boys returned to the field with the desire to send the opponent to the carpet and they succeeded with courage and ideas. If we consider that in front of them they had Juve, we can speak of great business. These are fundamental signs that clearly say one thing: Napoli is from Scudetto, it deserves the first place (even if Inter have two less games), entertains the public (detail that is anything but banal) and has totally absorbed the character of one’s coach. Juventus did well in the first half, he pressed with the attackers, which in the past has almost never done, and for this reason I appreciated it, but in the second half he let himself be overwhelmed and was not able to overturn the ‘action. Thiago Motta, whom I know well and I respect a lot, must not demoralize himself: he is on the right path, he is teaching his players a modern, aggressive football.

One step at a time

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You need a little patience, but I am convinced that Thiago, in the long run, will be able to win his challenge and will give successes to the bianconeri. The important thing is that society always supports it, in particular in delicate moments, because it is in those situations that coaches need help and advice. He is a prepared, serious technician who loves his job and who believes in his ideas. Look at what he was able to do with Bologna in the last championship. He will also make Juventus, as long as he has the time necessary to convey his thoughts. The game was quite balanced in the first part, when the bianconeri were good at pressing the opponents and trying to close the passage lines. It means that Thiago Motta had prepared the challenge well. This Naples, however, has technical resources and, above all, human and in the second half the difference in step, knowledge, ideas has been seen. In midfield Conte’s guys literally dominated, taking the game in hand. They forced Juve in the last 30 meters, have managed to equalize and then to take the lead: they did it with a determination and a will that, in the long run, are essential if you want to reach the great goal. Of this Naples I admire the total dedication to the cause of the players: they fight, run, never give up a centimeter of the field and then have technical qualities that can put any opponent in crisis. Have you seen what match did Anguissa played? It was everywhere, in midfield when the ball had to be recovered, then immediately ready to drive the transition and insert yourself in attack for the final blow or for the header, as it happened on the occasion of the draw. A player that Conte has completely recovered, and of this must be given merit, after a rather gray period. This means that the coach entered the heads of his boys, convinced them of the importance of work and is now rewarded with applause performance. Try to see how the Napoli midfielders are moved during the pressing phase: it seems that an invisible thread binds them. They are always coordinated: if one goes on, there is another ready to cover it. And to direct the traffic is Lobotka, who seems to have the radar in his feet. The growth in the second half is in particular the domain in the middle in the middle, because the Juventusians have not found the energies to contrast and start again.

unstoppable

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It should be added that, in the second half, the Juventus strikers fell a lot and did not help how they should have (and could). In general, however, the strength of Napoli was difficult to brake: a river in full, actions on actions, cross from the right and left, central penetrations, close exchanges near the penalty area. In short, the whole repertoire that is asked of a team that must go back to the current. Now there is one last obstacle to overcome: Conte’s boys must keep their feet planted on the ground, because it is a moment to believe themselves strong and then take some flanges. Humility must be the quality that distinguishes them in this second part of the season, because it is the quality that makes you work hard without feeling the effort.