Former SSC Napoli coach Reja analyzed his former club's difficult start and emphasized that character and personality are key to SSC Napoli's revival.

When you have spent 1514 days at SSC Napoli and observed the city from the coaching bench, you are qualified to describe, interpret, and discuss it as if you were sitting on the crater yourself. Edy Reja is like a renowned volcanologist; four years and two months—five full seasons—he was close to the extreme emotions that are erupting again: 4 games, 1 win, and 3 losses. His friend Allegri now stands before an unfamiliar world and needs some encouragement. "I believe in Allegri and I believe in his players, even though they are currently dealing with some injuries."

What do you make of Napoli's start?

"If you only look at the results, they are poor; if you consider some details and break down the matches, the story could have been very different. For example, if Anguissa had scored in the 90th minute at San Siro, or if De Bruyne had found someone for an equalizer in the 90th minute at the Maradona Stadium, would we be talking about the same thing now?"

As communication between coaches, these judgments come back.

"I think Allegri must remain optimistic and should be supported. From a distance, I sense a bit of pessimism. Disappointment is certainly present, which is normal, but you also have to say that he faced three opponents that anyone could lose to. The worst phase is over, and the signals are positive: they played openly against Inter; against Arsenal they changed their approach, withstood the pressure, and had more than one chance to hurt the opponent."

In this situation, there is only one remedy.

"Victory, of course. Against Bologna there can be no distractions; the team must reappear with the quality it does not lack. Some interesting things have already been seen in the matches, but results always change external perceptions: if they had only drawn twice between Inter and Arsenal, the assessment of SSC Napoli would be completely different. But Allegri is an excellent football tactician; he understands these things and knows how to get out of it."

Will tactics, technique, or personality be more important?

"All three together would certainly be better, but on a night like this, when there might be slight tension on the pitch, personality is more important. Allegri is the leader of SSC Napoli, as he has always been throughout his career, and he will guide the team in the right direction."

Anguissa's situation has improved, and Lang was "forgiven" for his disrespectful behavior.

"The team has already lost some players along the way; getting two or three back would help greatly. If Anguissa returns to his previous form, he will be a significant gain—a player who can intercept almost single-handedly and also push forward in attack. I noticed that in the early matches he was almost always in the box and had real chances. Later he had bad luck, but that's normal."

Defensive statistics illustrate the team's difficulties...

"These statistics are linked to the strength of the opposition, and when reviewing the matches, their influence must also be considered. But SSC Napoli didn't simply suffer a defeat against Inter; in certain phases of the game they may have been forced to defend, but they also came close to scoring several times."

And the match against Arsenal showed the gap between Italian football and the Premier League.

"They are the defending champions and reached the last Champions League final. They are a very strong opponent, the match was entertaining, and the football styles are different, with underlying economic inequality. They accelerate, cut inside, and execute many incredible movements, with a squad of players who are easy to like. Looking at the substitutions, you could see how many options Arteta had. England is ahead; we've known that for a long time and have been saying it for a long time."

Which players can Allegri rely on to get back on track soon?

"I like Gilmour very much. My most reassuring choice is still De Bruyne, because when he's in good form, he's a player of a different caliber, and in some phases of Wednesday's match you could already see what he's capable of. You have to keep up with his pace, understand his thinking, anticipate his movements; his ball handling always surprises opponents. I would also add Lobotka; he is always composed and one of the key pivots. But I think this team is very solid overall."

Napoli vs Bologna holds many connections for Reja.

"This match will stir memories of my youth and remind me of the experiences that have enriched my life. Speaking of SSC Napoli, I have often mentioned my relationship with the fans and those wonderful years from Serie C to European competitions. It is a club I will always consider my own. Bologna is equally special, but for me it is also a wound. I took over mid-season from Zaccheroni, at the beginning of the Gazzoni-Frascara era, and immediately had a winning streak of seven games and managed to reach the promotion playoffs. Fate sent me to face SPAL, the team where I began my career at a higher level as a player, and we were eliminated. I still remember that disappointment. The pain of losing never truly goes away."

Übersetzt von KI.

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