As Empoli prepare to face Napoli in a highly anticipated Serie A clash, manager Roberto D’Aversa opened up about his journey, challenges, and the upcoming match against his close friend Antonio Conte’s team.
D’Aversa’s move to Empoli was driven by two main objectives: maintaining the team’s Serie A status and redeeming his personal image. He expresses gratitude towards the club, stating, “I thank the club, they were courageous.” The manager acknowledges the wealth of young talent in Italian football but highlights the difficulty in giving them playing time due to the pressure for results.
The manager candidly discusses the infamous incident where he headbutted Henry, revealing its impact on his family life:
“When I returned home, Claudia, my wife, looked at me and said, ‘What have you done?’ Then immediately after: ‘It’s happened now, get up and move on.’ I was very lucky to meet her.”
D’Aversa credits the support of his family, the people of Lecce, and even fellow sporting directors for helping him through this challenging period.
Looking ahead to the match against Napoli, D’Aversa shares his thoughts on the Scudetto race:
“Based on their transfer market, Inter and Juventus are the favorites for the Scudetto, but Napoli will fight until the end.”
He also clarifies a misunderstood joke about his player Goglichidze and Napoli’s Kvaratskhelia, emphasizing it was merely a jest lost in translation.
D’Aversa speaks warmly of his relationship with Napoli’s manager, Antonio Conte:
“He’s the best at rebuilding, his history proves it. He doesn’t want to participate, he wants to win. He can do it because he has a strong team and no cup commitments.”
The Empoli manager reveals that Conte is his daughter’s godfather, and they often vacation together. He recalls their first encounter in Siena, where Conte’s grueling training methods left a lasting impression:
“I remember a marines-style preparation, I’ve never suffered so much. As newly promoted, we drew in Udine, it seemed like a great result to us. But he was angry. He puts you in a physical and mental condition that goes beyond.”
