Luciano Spalletti insists that he doesn’t like to celebrate in advance, despite Napoli’s 1-0 win over Juventus taking them within touching distance of the Serie A title. A late Giacomo Raspadori goal was enough to secure a massive victory in Turin for the Partenopei, meaning that they could seal the title next weekend, if results fall their way. Speaking after the victory (as quoted by TuttoNapoli), Spalletti refused to celebrate prematurely, insisting that his team still have work to do before the title is actually theirs, but touched on all the great work his players have put in this season:
“Emotion? It’s the same as I feel when I win any other match. We still have points to score, we probably will (win the title) because there is a margin, but I don’t like to celebrate in advance. What’s important is that our fans have been there for us, if we do it together it will be double the joy.”
You expected a match like this…?
“I expected even worse, our players were great because they had clear ideas of what was waiting for them on this pitch. Just as it happened to them in the previous game, it was impossible not to carry back a little bit of bitterness from the Champions League exit. Being able to clean up the remnants of that defeat on this pitch was very difficult, probably the crowd also helped us. We received messages of affection and tonight we had a good performance. First half, we could have done something more.”
Still starring are those who came from the bench like Elmas and Raspadori.
“Getting ready in ten minutes is never easy, but Raspadori is a guy with a past, a smart guy who knows the job he has to do. I probably played them even less for what they deserved.”
Do you also have any regrets?
“In life there is no backtracking, if you carry bitterness it affects you in the matches you have to face. We were sorry to get out of the Champions League, a little bit of regret is there, because you have to pull a little bit on the things that didn’t go the way we wanted. We had to find the solutions to get out of the situations, the way those matches were played there you could see that the team was in a position to be able to do it. Then it is clear that there is a lot of joy for this championship.”
What did she enjoy most?
“You have to write a book because there was so much. Tonight the personality of the boys, the reaction over these three days, the level of competition was as top as the opposing team. Throughout the season this attitude that they along with me have chosen to have, they have been consistent in putting it into practice throughout the league and have been rewarded. There are so many important things we did to earn a top spot like that, recreate a mentality, restore strength to the dream of the Neapolitans. We are the ones who have to put into practice that mad desire that they have and that some have not been able to see in this period. They will be forever grateful to us.”
How good is it to win in the final minutes?
“It feels good to win, beyond when it happens. It takes on a more important flavor because you are in the dying minutes. We wanted to score goals and the team was rewarded.”
What did you say to the players?
“Maybe a little louder than bravi!, with more impetus. Those are the words you say in those moments there, though, that they deserved it. A good result but we need to close out the season.”
