Coaches Corner: Juventus-Napoli

By: fortunato | March 15th, 2008

On the evening before the big match with Juventus, Napoli coach Edy Reja granted an interview which was broadcast on the official SSC Napoli website and here is a snapshot of some questions and his answers:

On his goals from this point forward: “We are at a point where we must earn as many points as possible”
On his strategies against Juventus: “I would like to see an aggressive Napoli team. We must approach the game with fierce intensity”.
On how things will change without Zalayeta: “Whoever plays must give it 100%. We have a quality and resilient team and we have faced our share of adversity this season with all the suspensions and in most cases we have picked up our share of points when it mattered most. All who have been asked to step in have contributed”
On Sosa and Calaio’s abilities: “Both are key members of the team. Pampa is a strong and experienced striker. Calaio on the other hand; his accomplishments speak for themselves; he is the striker who took us from B to A with his key goals. We relied on him in the past and we will continue to do so in the future.
On Juventus’ missing players: “I don’t believe this will hinder them. When I look on the pitch I will see world class players like Nedved, Del Piero, Trezeguet, Salihamidzic, Sissoko e Grygera. We will need to be at our best and ensure we limit their space to maneuver but it won’t be easy”.

Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri along with the rest of the bianconeri are saying all the right things when asked about the whole revenge thing in reference to their 3-1 loss in Napoli back in October. Both Ranieri and his players are being very complimentary of the partenopei and are singing the praises of Napoli’s progress thus far and their players, particularly Lavezzi. Here is a snapshot of some of Ranieri’s comments:
On Napoli’s loss of Zelayeta: “I feel bad for him. He is a good player and a good human being. I wish him a speedy recovery. He made a good striker combination with Lavezzi”
On Lavezzi” “Lavezzi is not only a good player but he is extremely tricky to defend against”
On his bianconeri: “I have the utmost of confidence that our players will continue in the manner in which they ended against Genoa last week. Prior to that game, we had faced a lot of pressure to win (after the previous week’s home upset at the hands of Fiorentina).
On the game last October at the San Paolo: “There were two evident errors but it is not worthwhile to lament them now”

From all accounts, here are tomorrow’s probable lineups:
JUVENTUS (4-4-2): 1 Buffon; 21 Grygera, 25 Stendardo, 3 Chiellini, 28 Molinaro; 7 Salihamidzic, 22 Sissoko, 30 Tiago, 11 Nedved; 10 Del Piero, 17 Trezeguet.
BENCH: 12 Belardi, 2 Birindelli, 43 Ariaudo, 23 Nocerino, 36 Castiglia, 20 Palladino, 9 Iaquinta

NAPOLI (3-5-2): 22 Gianello; 13 Santacroce, 28 Cannavaro, 21 Domizzi; 14 Garics, 5 Pazienza, 23 Gargano, 17 Hamsik, 19 Savini; 7 Lavezzi, 11 Calaiò.
BENCH: 30 Navarro, 96 Contini, 2 Grava, 4 Montervino, 24 Dalla Bona, 18 Bogliacino, 9 Sosa.

FORZA NAPOLI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!