Allegri Warns Against Over-Excitement as Napoli Face Inter
Massimiliano Allegri walked into the press room and barely had time to sit down before the questions arrived: with injuries piling up and a shock defeat to Como still fresh, was this even a Scudetto race anymore?
He recognised the mood instantly.
“At Napoli it’s either over-excitement or depression, but we are only in Week 3,” he replied, a shrug doing as much talking as his words.
Napoli travel to San Siro on Saturday to face Inter at 17.00 UK time (18.00 CEST), a meeting of the top two sides from the last two Serie A seasons, but the build-up in Naples has been dominated by setbacks rather than title talk.
Injury blows and a restless city
The 2-1 home defeat to Como cut deep. Not just because of the result, but because of the damage it left behind.
Giovane limped out injured. Scott McTominay was ruled out for several weeks after surgery to correct a small heart issue. They join long-term absentees Alessandro Buongiorno and Luca Marianucci on the sidelines, stripping Allegri of key options in the spine of his team at the very moment he needs stability.
Yet the coach refused to sink into the gloom that often engulfs the city after a bad night at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
“We’re disappointed to have lost to Como, but there must be balance, there are so many games still to be played,” he said. “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.”
The pressure finally told in the questioning when the injury list was reeled off. Allegri, typically pragmatic, chose to flip the narrative.
“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.”
Managing Vergara and the bench choices
With so many players out, attention naturally turned to Antonio Vergara and whether the talented youngster will be thrust into a bigger role.
Allegri pushed back.
“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.
His decision to leave Vergara on the bench against Como raised eyebrows, but Allegri was blunt about the constraints.
“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, yes. Panic promotion, no.
De Bruyne’s fitness and life without McTominay
Kevin De Bruyne has yet to start a game this season, a fact that would usually dominate headlines on its own. Right now it’s just another subplot in a Napoli side searching for rhythm.
“He is improving,” Allegri said of the Belgian, before underlining the tactical headache left by McTominay’s absence. “Naturally I need to balance out the midfield without McTominay, as this limits the options. 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.”
No like-for-like replacement, no simple solution. Allegri will have to redraw his midfield map on the fly, and he knows it.
Return to San Siro and a clear Scudetto favourite
For Allegri, San Siro is familiar territory and not all of it fond. Milan sacked him there last summer, yet he left with both editions of the Derby della Madonnina against Inter in his pocket.
“Playing in that stadium is always marvellous, while Inter and Napoli love to do battle,” he said. “We need a good performance with fewer technical errors, because those are costly.”
He did not pretend the stage was level.
“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 arrive wounded, Inter armed and ready. Allegri, though, framed the contest as a test of nerve as much as talent.
Transfer limits and a long-season vision
While other Serie A giants spent heavily in the summer, Napoli were forced to sell before they could buy, a limitation that has left their squad looking thinner than some of their rivals.
Allegri refused to indulge any inferiority complex.
“There’s no point looking at the others, we need to focus on ourselves,” he said. “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.”
Week 3, injuries mounting, Inter away, Arsenal and the Champions League looming. The mood outside might swing wildly between crisis and euphoria, but Allegri has nailed his colours to something less dramatic.
Balance now, or pay for it when the real race begins.
