NAPOLI manager Luciano Spalletti has finally accepted that his side are on course for the Serie A title, although he expressed disappointment at their failure to beat AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League.
For weeks, Spalletti refused to acknowledge that his side were on the verge of their first Scudetto in 33 years despite their huge lead at the top of the Serie A standings.
However, after last night’s 1-0 victory over Juventus in Turin, which opened a 17-point gap over second-placed Lazio with seven rounds of matches to go, Spalletti is in celebration mood.
“There are still points to be earned, probably we’ll do it because there is an important margin, but I don’t like to celebrate in advance as it happened this week. If we celebrate together, the joy will be doubled,” he said in his post-match interview.
Giacomo Raspadori scored the winning goal in the 93rd minute in a game which Nigeria international Victor Osimhen was brilliant as usual and Napoli dominated possession and had more chances.
While praising the players, Spalletti recalled with regret how Napoli lost out 2-1 on aggregate to Milan in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
“My players were excellent, they knew what to expect,” Spalletti added.
“It’s impossible not to be a little disappointed about the Champions League exit.
“After that, it was difficult to come here and return home with a good result. Everyone has been helping us, also after the elimination. We have received a lot of support: ‘Let’s go ahead, it doesn’t matter.’ And then we put in this performance.
“Of course, there is a bit of regret because some things didn’t go as we wanted. We must find the right solutions to avoid traps and there’s joy for how we conducted the league.”
When asked what he liked about his team’s overall performance last night, Spalletti replied: “I could write a book about it! I liked the lads’ personality, and the reaction they’ve had over the last three days.
“It was a top opponent and they were ready. I told them ‘well done’ but louder than this. They deserved it, it was a great result, now we have to finish the job.”
Napoli could wrap up the title as early as this weekend.
If they beat Salernitana in Naples on Saturday and Lazio fail to win at Inter Milan on Sunday, Spalletti, Osimhen and the other Napoli players, officials and fans will be celebrating their first Scudetto since the days of the great Diego Maradona.
