Napoli midfielder Frank Zambo Anguissa recently shared insights about his performance and aspirations in an exclusive interview with CRC, the club’s radio partner. Reflecting on his recent goal against Udinese, Anguissa stated, “It’s a play we practice in training, just like many other things. I’m happy to have scored and to have done so in a victory. When I play, I don’t think about scoring; the most important thing is that the team wins.”
Anguissa emphasized the evolving role of modern midfielders, acknowledging that they are expected to contribute in various ways. “The coach tells me that I need to score more and aims for eight goals a season. For me, that’s not the priority. I’m happy when I score, but the team comes first,” he explained.
Looking ahead to Napoli’s upcoming match against Genoa, Anguissa maintained a focus on team strategy rather than making predictions about the outcome. “I can’t say how Saturday’s match will go; I’m more concerned with what we need to do. The important thing is to stay concentrated on our plays and the tactical setup prepared by the coach. We must decide the match ourselves. From this perspective, Napoli should be a team that wins against anyone. Saturday will be a game we play to win.”
Discussing former manager Patrick Vieira, who is now at Genoa, Anguissa expressed admiration for him as both a coach and a person. “I really like him as a person; we met in London when he was coaching Crystal Palace and wanted me there. I enjoy talking with him because he has many ideas, and I appreciate him greatly on a personal level. It will be nice to see him on the Genoa bench, but I hope we win the match.”
When asked about his approach to competition in Serie A, Anguissa stated that he prefers to focus on his own performances rather than comparing Napoli to other teams. “The truth is that I don’t watch football; I live it. I play match by match and don’t care what other teams do. I haven’t watched Inter or Atalanta play; I focus on winning our games,” he said.
Anguissa acknowledged the strength of teams like Atalanta and Inter but reiterated his commitment to Napoli’s objectives: “I think Napoli is a team that matters and can win; we must think only about this.”
Regarding his relationship with current coach Antonio Conte, Anguissa noted, “Conte asks me not to be lazy. He’s a fantastic coach; I can’t say anything different. He always demands 200% from us in our performances. His tactical requests vary based on the match and opponents. He asks me to have personality and work well technically.”
Anguissa also praised his teammate Stanislav Lobotka for his calm demeanor both on and off the pitch: “I love him as a person; he never talks much and is always calm. He’s not afraid to do things that few would dare to do. We connect almost telepathically on the field.”
Looking at potential future teammates like Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay, Anguissa expressed respect for their abilities: “They are both really strong players and excellent people as well. The human aspect is very important to me; I always say that after football, there’s life.” He believes both players possess the quality needed to succeed at Napoli.
